Education Professionals
No matter your place in education; teachers, tutors, lecturers and support staff in primary and secondary schools, colleges, further education and higher education – everyone can make a difference in the lives and education journey, of young and young adult carers. Make a difference and give carers the chance to be the best they can be.
Young carers in education facts
- The average age of a young carer in Solihull is 11 years old.
- 1 in 5 pupils are young carers – however 72% of schools identified no young carers in their schools in the national school census.
- 16% of young carers aged 5-17 are primary young carers – the only person the cared-for relies on for support.
- In 2024, the highest needs of young carers in Solihull, in order are: social, education, emotional needs and support networks.
- In 2024, the main condition young carers care for are, in order: physical disability (48%), mental health (40%), learning disability (6%), sensory impairment (3%). Some are caring for more than one condition.
- 36% of young carers report being bullied due to their caring role.
- 33% of young and young adult carers said they either ‘always’ or ‘usually’ struggle to balance caring with school, college, university or work.
- 40% of young and young adult carers say they ‘never’ or ‘not often’ get support in their school, college or university.
- 44% of young and young adult carers said caring ‘always’ or ‘usually’ affected how much time they spend with friends.
- 44% ‘always’ or ‘usually’ feel stressed because of being a young or young adult carer
- 94% of schools said staff were more likely to know what to do if they identified a young carer .
- 94% had a better understanding of the support required for young carers.
- 85% of young carers demonstrated increased wellbeing.
- 73% of schools reported young carers’ classroom engagement had improved.
- 83% of young carers demonstrated increased happiness.
- 72% of schools thought young carers motivation to learn had improved.
- 63% reported improvements in young carers’ achievements
- 83% of young carers demonstrated an increase in confidence.
How you can support young carers
Young and young adult carers face particular challenges that impact their opportunities to learn.
The Young Carers in Schools programme aims to create and achieve a school-wide approach to supporting carers. The award provides all the tools you need to support carers in education.
If you have ever seen our staff and volunteers at events or in public, they’d be made visible by their large standees, and handing out flyers, leaflets and posters. These materials have been eye-catching in the busiest of shopping centres, and have been placed in schools, GP’s offices and employers offices, among others. They have been effective in helping those who are caring, that they are in fact unpaid carers.
Making sure carers know that they are carers is one of the most difficult barriers we often face. After all, many people believe the care they provide is a way of life, and they are simply doing what they had to do.
For young people, this level of responsibility and obligation can have incredible impact on their ability to study, learn, and fulfil their educational and occupational destinies.
Our print and digital materials have been made available, so you can use them throughout your school, college, university, after school clubs, scouts, sports teams, libraries, etc. Wherever young carers may be, make it visible – make them visible.
The young carers in schools programme
As many as one in five secondary school students may be young carers.
By participating in the programme, schools can demonstrate their commitment to supporting this especially vulnerable group of pupils, as well as earning your school:
- National recognition for improving outcomes for young carers through the Young Carers in Schools Award.
Take clear, manageable steps to enhance support for this vulnerable group—guiding schools to prioritise and plan their next actions.
Access a range of support, including practical tools, templates, examples of good practice, webinars, and professional development opportunities.
The Award was developed in collaboration with schools, young carer services, and young carers themselves. It includes two levels – an Award and Award Plus – and is structured around five core standards.
These standards were shaped through consultation with young carers and form the foundation of the new Young Carers in Schools Award:
There are assigned members of staff with responsibility for understanding and addressing young carers’ needs
Awareness is raised by sharing knowledge about disability, illness and young carers throughout the school.
Young carers are being identified within the school.
Young carers are listened to, consulted with, and given time and space to talk.
Young carers are listened to, consulted with and given time and space to tal.
when Applying to Young Carers in Schools Award
Award
Pack
Award Provision Map
Award Evidence Example Pack
Award Launch Webinar
Award Launch Webinar
Award
Pack
Award Provision Map
Award Evidence Example Pack
Award Launch Webinar
Award Launch Webinar
Award
Pack
Award Provision Map
Award Evidence Example Pack
Award Launch Webinar
Award Launch Webinar
when Applying to Young Carers in Schools Award plus
Award
Plus Pack
Award Plus Provision Map
Award Plus Evidence Example Pack
COMING SOON
Award Launch Webinar
Award Launch Webinar
Award
Plus Pack
Award Plus Provision Map
Award Plus Evidence Example Pack
COMING SOON
Award Launch Webinar
Award Launch Webinar
Award
Plus Pack
Award Plus Provision Map
Award Plus Evidence Example Pack
COMING SOON
Award Launch Webinar
Award Launch Webinar
how to apply to the Young Carers in Schools Award
- A significant portion of the evidence required to demonstrate your school’s efforts in identifying and supporting young carers can be provided through photographs of your young carers' noticeboard. We encourage you to submit both a wide-angle image of the full noticeboard and close-up images of each specific section relevant to the Award criteria. All photographs should be clear and appropriately labelled.
- Even if your school has a well-established provision for young carers, we ask that all schools initially apply for the standard Young Carers in Schools Award. This approach streamlines the process should you wish to progress to the Young Carers in Schools Award Plus in the future.
- Please note that the Award is valid for three years, after which schools must reapply to ensure continued support for young carers.
- As part of the application process, schools will be asked to report the number of young carers currently identified. One year following the achievement of the Award, we will follow up to assess whether this number has increased.
- In response to feedback, fixed submission deadlines have been removed. Schools may now apply at a time that best suits them. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and a decision will be communicated within six weeks of submission.
Apply for Young Carers in School Award
Apply for Young Carers in School Award Plus
Apply for Young Carers in School Award
Apply for Young Carers in School Award Plus
Apply for Young Carers in School Award
Apply for Young Carers in School Award Plus
YOUNG CARERS IN SCHOOL GUIDE
download resources & posters
You are free to use these resources in your place of business to help hidden carers be seen.
How we support young carers
Young Carers Assessments
To help, we will carry out an assessment first. This helps us to understand what life is like for you as a young carer and helps you find out what support you can get and how to get it.
During your assessment, we look at:
- Tasks you carry out at home and for the person, you care for
- How caring affects your social life, your physical and emotional health and your access to education
- What support is already in place for you
- What other support is available for you and your family
Support Work
Life is different for each young carer so the support we offer will be made to fit your own situation. You can also access one-to-one or group support work to get the help that’s right for you.
Support workers can help you manage your feelings, worries about caring and share your ambitions or wishes while getting a chance to build your knowledge and skills around caring. You may want to know more about the condition of the person you care for or chat about your future.
Events and activities and meeting other carers
It is important for you to have time out from caring but it can be difficult to do that because of the price or you may not be able to join in because of caring. We provide free activities so that you get a chance to have fun, make new friends, be with others who understand, have time to yourself and do things you may not usually be able to
Please look at our online calendar or newsletter to find out more.
Peer Mentoring and Befriending
Some of our experienced young adult carers volunteer their time to mentor other young carers who need a little extra help. These mentors are a great support as they have already been on a caring journey themselves. They know how to get the right help, do well in education and make time for fun around caring. We also have trained adult befrienders to support young carers.
This support is available individually or in a group.
Training
We offer a range of training to support you in your caring role and young carers themselves design the programme. What we deliver has been informed by the carers steering group. In the past, we have provided training or workshops in: first aid, managing conflict, managing stress and pressure, self-esteem and self-confidence.
Please look at our calendar or the newsletter for more details.
faq's
Will social services be involved?
There is no need for social services to be involved unless there is a risk of harm to the young carer. This could be because of, too many caring responsibilities, inappropriate caring or neglect.
What services are available to me?
Carers assessments, look at everything you do as a carer and how we can help. One to one sessions with a Support Worker can help you with your feelings and anything related to caring.
We know young carers need a time-out so we offer activities at little or no cost to give you a chance to have fun and make new friends with others who understand.
We also run peer mentoring and befriending sessions. You will also be issued with a carers card that can be used for discounts.
Can I join your service without my parents knowing?
Yes, you can, if you are over the age of 14, you can have limited support from us.
You won’t be able to attend any of the events or activities as we need parental consent for that, but you will be able to have a one-to-one session with a support worker. This can be arranged to take place at your school or at another appropriate place.
Will I be able to go to all of the activities?
Not all of them.
We support a lot of carers, and we never have enough places for everyone. We make our selections based on a young carer’s need for a break from caring first. After that, we then look at when was the last time you attended a trip. You can register your interest in everything, if there is no space you will be put on the waiting list. If anyone drops out you may be called last minute to see if you want to attend.
I don’t want to do anything; I don’t know anyone.
Meeting other carers that know what you are going through helps reduce isolation. We always do a quick icebreaker for people to get to know one another a bit better. There are also staff, peer mentors and befrienders that can help you.
You do not have to do anything you don’t want to, it is entirely up to you. This is the same for any activity we have, if you change your mind that is OK. Some young carers only have a carers card and feel that they don’t need the support we offer but use the card for discounted or free places for activities.
Register for free to access our services!
To find out more about our services and the support we can offer you, register here, or you can contact our friendly team via phone on 0121 788 1143 or email centre@solihullcarers.org.
Alternatively, you can write to us at the address below:
Carers Trust Solihull
The Carers Centre, Solihull Fire Station Annexe, 620 Streetsbrook Road, Solihull, B91 1QY
Phone: 0121 788 1143
Email: centre@solihullcarers.org
young carers stories
It is critical for young carers to be identified early so they can get the right support at the right time. Young carers in Solihull tell their story of what it means to them to be a carer and how they have been supported.
If you’re a carer and would like to share your story, please contact us by clicking here
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- 11 minutes |
- 5 minutes |
- 8 minutes |
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- 35 minutes |
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