HOLY Family Primary School is the latest school in Swindon to be presented with the Young Carer Award for supporting their young carers.

Swindon Carers Centre developed the Young Carer Award to enable schools to effectively recognise and value young carers and ensure they are supported to achieve their potential in school and cope with their caring responsibilities.

A Young Carer Lead is identified in each school working towards the Award. The Young Carer Lead works with Swindon Carers Centre to achieve the three standards of the Award by implementing creative support mechanisms with help from the young carers themselves.

A young carer is a child under the age of 18 years old who provides regular and ongoing care to a parent, sibling or any other family member or friend. This can include helping with dressing, cooking, housework and giving medication.

Sarah Morland, Young Carer Lead at Holy Family Primary School said: “We can now show that we are meeting the needs of a particularly vulnerable group of children, which is also a requirement of the Ofsted Framework. Our young carers all come along to the fortnightly lunchtime group and know that they can share their experiences with a like-minded group of children and a dedicated member of staff.”

One young carer at the school said: “Having the Award for our school is great because, sometimes, outside of school is not safe and people can be mean. School is safe because you have your friends and teachers to support you and look after you. I was chosen to be the Chief Young Carer. It’s a big responsibility and my Mum is proud.”

Swindon Carers Centre is currently working with schools and colleges across Swindon and are always ready to work with more. Sarah said: “Having the Award gives us more confidence to do what we were already doing well. We now have the certificate to prove that we are looking after our young carers in the best way possible which we always were. Holy Family Primary would recommend the Young Carer Award to any school thinking about achieving it and the hands on support from the Swindon Carers Centre Schools Development Officer is exemplary.”

For more information about the Young Carer Award, please contact Ann Giles, Schools Development Officer at Swindon Carers Centre by ann.giles @swindoncarers.org.uk