Schools now offering support to 235 more young carers

Young carers are being offered emotional and academic support at schools thanks to a charity-run programme.

About 235 pupils across Somerset have been identified as carers with the help of the Young Carers in Schools project over the last two years.

School leaders say the scheme has boosted the youngsters' attendance and wellbeing.

Jett, 10, cares for his brother, who has a life-limiting brain disorder. He said his school supports him by listening and helping him calm down.

Jett said he sometimes he feels angry about what is going on and why it has happened.

But he says it helps to talk to teachers about it.

Daisy, 13, assists with caring for her mum, who has arthritis.

She said: "It can be quite difficult physically and emotionally sometimes."

Her school has a designated teacher in each year group who students can talk to when needed.

She said: "They just listen to me and help to make myself feel better.

"It helps a lot because there's not a lot of people I can talk to at home."

Michelle Palmer, Somerset's Young Carers in Schools (YCiS) coordinator, said each of the schools taking part had identified at least ten pupils.

The YCiS programme involves giving schools resources to help them spot young carers and provide emotional and academic support to improve attainment, attendance and wellbeing.

Run by charity Youth Unlimited, the scheme is commissioned by Somerset Council to work with schools to achieve an award status based on how well they work with young carers.

Over the past two years, the scheme has helped to increase the number of known young carers in Somerset from 400 to 635.

In total, 14 schools in the county have earned the YCiS award and another 70 are working to achieve it.

Palmer said that, thanks to raised awareness, young carers feel more comfortable speaking to teachers and asking for support.

Throughout the year, young carers also attend events designed to support them, with others from different schools.

At King Alfred School in Burnham-on-Sea, teachers are now monitoring 20 young carers when they were previously aware of two.

A spokesperson for the school said: "Through early identification and being able to put support in place, our young carers in Year 7 all have attendance of 96% or higher."

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