Five ways to help your school’s young carers

Young carers are pupils who provide regular care to a family member who is physically or mentally ill, disabled or misuses substances.

According to the Carers Trust, as many as one in 12 young people could be a young carer. Research findings show that:

There are many small ways in which we can have a big impact on the wellbeing of young carers and improve their school experience. Here are five you could try.

It is amazing how far the occasional nod or a smile can go towards letting a young person know that they are cared for. This can be especially important for young carers as the shift in responsibilities and priorities in their household might mean that they are less aware than their peers that as well as caring for others, they are cared for too. Holding a child in mind and simply acknowledging them with a smile or a nod of the head each time you see them can help them to feel less alone and give them little boosts in their day.