Young Carers Award
George Mitchell School is the first school in the borough to start the Young Carers Award. The award recognises them as young carers, whilst supporting them in achieving the best during their time at school. At George Mitchell School we are aware that some of our pupils are young carers – children under 16 who are caring unpaid for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems. Young carers are a vulnerable and disadvantaged group who frequently experience difficulties in their education as a result of their caring role.
The school and governing body therefore are keen to ensure that all parents have access to information they need so they can consider the needs of young carers as part of their child’s school provision.
As part of the schools continued commitment to support our students this term, once again we are working with the boroughs Young Carers in-school program which will helps us identify and support students who are Young Carers. If you would like to find out more about Young Carers, please look at the link below, visit our page on our schools website or speak with Mrs McLeary or Mrs Hay in school.
https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/content/waltham-forest-young-carers-project
Contact details
Lead Governor- Dionne Campbell-Mark
Ian Marshall ian.marshall@georgemitchellschool.co.uk
A Young Carers Role?
- Practical Tasks – Cooking, housework and shopping.
- Physical care – Lifting or helping someone use stairs
- Personal care – Dressing, washing, helping with toileting needs.
- Emotional support – listening, calming, being present.
- Managing the family budget, collecting benefits and prescriptions.
- Medication management.
- Looking after younger siblings
- Helping someone communicate
How will supporting young careers raise attendance, attainment and wellbeing?
- 27% of young carers aged 11-15 miss school or experience educational difficulties (40% where children care for a relative with drug or alcohol problems)
- A quarter of young carers said they were bullied at school because of their caring role (Cares Trust, 2013)
- They are more likely than the national average not to be in education, employment or training (NEET) between 16 and 19 (The Children’s Society, 2013)
- They have significantly lower educational attainment GCSE level – the difference between nine Bs and nine Cs (The Children’s Society, 2013)
