Young Carers
We are committed to ensuring that any pupil identified as a young carer is supported and enabled to thrive.
A Young Carer is defined as a pupil under 18 who provides care, assistance, or emotional support to a family member or close friend with disabilities, health concerns, or substance misuse issues. Young carers are recognised by the DfE and the school as children who are vulnerable. This is because the level of caregiving and responsibility to the person in need of care is often above that expected for that child’s age and stage of development, and can negatively impact their emotional or physical wellbeing, educational achievement and outcomes.
We are committed to ensuring that any pupil identified as a young carer is supported and enabled to thrive. Our support for Young Carers includes:
- Engaging with pupils and families to support young carers to achieve educationally
- Promoting a positive culture in which young people are safeguarded by the prevention of undertaking care that is often above that expected for that child’s age and stage of development
- Using a whole family, inter-agency approach to accessing services
- Reducing the impact of caring on the wellbeing of young carers
- Providing enrichment opportunities for young carers such as trips and rewards.
Internal support for young carers includes:
- briefing videos for pupils to raise awareness of young carers
- provide enrichment opportunities for young carers
- providing an inclusive support network for families and pupils, through coffee mornings and pupil groups
- Hold termly "Heard" sessions (pupil voice forums) specifically for young carers
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Useful Links:
For external support please visit the following link: Young carers - Wiltshire Council
Young carers - Wiltshire Council – this website contains information on the young carers assessment with IFD to register them as a young carer, as well as information about youth action Wiltshire and the provision they offer.
Voice - Wiltshire Council – this page has information about the young carers council.
Home - Wiltshire Carers – this is Forward Carers who is commissioned by Wiltshire Council to be the online offer for carers – it covers young and adult carers
There’s the young carer magazine – this is the link to sign up for your own copy https://surveys.wiltshire.gov.uk/Interview/38313737-0818-44e3-8a5b-3257982353d2
Young Adult Carers - Carers Together Wiltshire – for the young adult carers provision which covers over 16’s and support with college and the transition.
Young Carers Development Trust | YCDT
Forward Carers provide Wiltshire's digital offer: Home - Wiltshire Carers
Forward Carers provide a Young Carers ID Card: To sign up for a Young Carers ID Card click here.
Youth Action Wiltshire provide the Young Carers Service. For more information about YAW Young Carers Service click here.
Contact YAW Young Carers Service at wiltshireyoungcarers@youthactionwiltshire.org
Other Counties:
South Gloucestershire:
Carers Support - Bristol and South Gloucestershire. What we offer - Carers Support Bristol and South Gloucestershire
To refer a young person: South Glos LIFE | Who to inform if you are or know a young carer
Oxfordshire
Be Free Young Carers: Family Information Service | Be Free Young Carers
To refer a young person: Making a Referral - Be Free YC
Swindon
Swindon Carers Centre: Supporting Unpaid Young Carers | Swindon Carers Centre
To refer a young person: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=DP6EmK-fwkabXdvTiBwLlgYLH1WhLxZJirKYqd0Tg25UNVQyQzM5Wkg0M1ZMNkZQTk02VksxN05KQi4u
BANES
Banes Carers Centre:Are you a young carer? | The Carers’ Centre
To refer a young person: Young carer referral form | The Carers' Centre - Bath and North East Somerset
Hampshire
Hampshire Young Carers Alliance: Hampshire Young Carers Alliance, Petersfield
To refer a young person: If you know a young person with caring responsibilities who would benefit from support through the Hampshire Young Carers Service, submit an Inter-Agency Referral Form (IARF) for Hampshire to access the local service for the family.
Gloucester
Gloucester Young Carers (GYC): Gloucestershire Young Carers | Charity | UK
To refer a young person: Referral Form
Somerset
Somerset Young Carers Voice Group: Young Carers
To refer a young person: All referrals must be sent to our Customer Contact Children’s Team and completed using an early help assessment. To find out more phone us on 0300 123 2224.
The leaders for Young Carers at The Springfields Academy are:
Maxine Page, Senco. You can contact Maxine on Maxine.Page@springfieldsacademy.org
Connie Knight, Head of SEND. You can contact Connie on Connie.Knight@springfieldsacademy.org
Please click here for the young carers policy:
