Developing Healthy Attitudes

DHA Home SWR Home Bereavement Body Image & Self-Esteem Bullying Child Marriage Children in Care & Care Leavers Child Sexual Exploitation Domestic Abuse Eating Disorders Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Gambling Hate Crime & Hate Incidents Healthy Relationships Honour Based Abuse Housing & Supported Accommodation LGBT+ Young People Menstruation Mental Health Online Safety Sexual Health Smoking inc. Vaping Substance Use/Misuse Virginity Testing Young Carers Youth Crime

Young Carers

Overview

The term ‘young carer’ refers to a child or young person who provides substantial unpaid care for relatives who have long term physical or mental illnesses, disabilities, and/or substance misuse issues. 1 in 12 children are young carers but many remain hidden until a crisis hits. This may be due to a number of factors:

  • The young person may not realise that they are a carer or that their life differs from that of their peers.
  • They don’t want to be perceived as different from their peers and therefore are afraid of drawing attention to their caring role.
  • They’re worried about bullying.
  • They want to keep their identity at school separate from their identity as a carer.
  • They’re worried the school will show no interest in their situation.
  • They’re worried about their family being split up.
  • They’re worried about letting their family down by admitting they need support.

Due to the prevalence and hidden nature of the issue, it is vital that schools take an active role in the identification and support of young carers within their school community. The key to doing this effectively is through raising awareness and being proactive in their support: allowing these children the chance to recognise their caring role and feel safe enough to discuss it and seek help.

Key Facts*

  • 1 in 12 children provide mid-to-high level care for someone in their family. This means there are at least 7000 young carers in Sheffield alone.
  • According to a 2010 study, 39% of six to 18-year-olds questioned said that not a single teacher at their school was aware of their caring role.
  • Young carers have significantly lower educational attainment at GCSE level, the equivalent to nine grades lower overall than their peers e.g. the difference between nine B’s and nine C’s.
  • Young carers miss or cut short many school days every year. The average was 48 school days missed or cut short because of their caring role.
  • 68% of young carers are bullied in schools, often for the disabilities or appearances of their parents, and 38% had mental health problems.
  • Young adult carers aged between 16 and 18 years are twice as likely to be not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
  • Young adult carers appear to be four times more likely to have to drop out of their college or university course than other students.

Best Practice

Guidelines taken from page 3-5 of ‘Gaining an understanding of young carers’.

  • All staff need to be aware of the identifying signs of a young carer.
  • Pupils with caring responsibilities may in fact self-identify and present themselves to a teacher or member of staff with whom they feel comfortable.
  • All staff should be aware of the schools process of sharing information about the carer- in order to ensure proper confidentially and privacy, and to prevent the carer having to explain themselves several times. They should also know not to discuss a pupil’s caring role in front of their peers.

Young people from Sheffield Young Carers have produced a film about the importance of identification and support.

Barnsley Doncaster Rotherham Sheffield

enquiries@learnsheffield.co.uk
0114 250 7417

Learn Sheffield,
Suite 6, Albion House, Savile Street,
Sheffield, S4 7UD

Learn Sheffield is a not for profit company limited by guarantee, of which 80% is owned by Sheffield schools and colleges and 20% by Sheffield City Council.

Page Updated: 30 November 2022

To ensure you get the best experience during your visit this website uses cookies. To find out more see our Privacy Policy.  Got it