‘I would like my teachers to understand why I am late sometimes and not to get into trouble for it’
Our EyPIC Team works with schools and colleges to help support Young Carers!
We understand that sometimes Young Carers need a little extra help at school. Balancing studying and being a carer can be hard. Sometimes it might feel that teachers don’t understand and it can be difficult to even speak with friends, who may not realise what it means to be a Young Carer.
We can work with schools to make sure that Young Carers have all the help they need to be able to cope with their workload and, perhaps, even enjoy their time at school.
It is estimated that there are three Young Carers in every secondary school class in the UK.
If you are a Young Carer who would like some support at school, give the EyPIC Team a call on 07809 332106.
(Remember if you are a Young Carer you can speak to us in confidence about anything).
If you are a teacher or if you work at a school or college in Enfield, see our Information for supporting Young Carers in schools and colleges page.
Contact the EyPIC Team on 020 8366 3677, 07809 332106 or youngcarers@enfieldcarers.org.
Young Carers have spoken out about how they feel:
- “Sometimes I refuse to go to class – especially when things are going on at home.”
- “It’s difficult to talk to teachers. It’s not always easy to explain…It’s always in the corridor or class. I just don’t tell them.”
- “My friends don’t get it. But to be honest I don’t really want them to. When I’m at school that’s my chance to just be me.”
- “I find it difficult to concentrate at school. I can’t wait to check in at home and make sure everything is OK.”
(Carers Trust Young Carers in School Report 2017)
Skills journal
Recognising the skills you are learning
Carers Trust have produced a booklet for that helps Young Carers think about what transferrable skills they have gained from their caring responsibilities.
This journal will help you to think about how being a carer has helped you to develop lots of skills. It can be hard to see what skills you have when you are using them every day.
Here are some examples of common caring responsibilities and the skills that could be attached to them:
- Managing money for the house or applying for entitlements
=> budgeting; understanding complex documents; admin ability - Translating for someone
=> listening; thinking on your feet talking to professionals; showing respect - Listening to someone’s worries
=> patience; empathy; compassion; resilience - Practical skills in the house (like cooking or cleaning)
= > timekeeping; prioritising what needs to be done first; problem solving - Helping someone with treatments or medications
=> responsibility; attention to detail and precision
Think about something you are responsible for, or a task you do as a carer. What skills does this show you have?
Here are two examples to get you thinking.
- If you help your Mum/Dad get the tea ready every evening and do your homework the skills you are developing might be:
You complete lots of different tasks every day. This has helped you to develop excellent time management skills and prioritising skills. - If you talk to your big sister when she is feeling down then you may have experience with mental health issues and this has helped you develop good listening skills.
Next steps
When you’ve completed your journal, talk to your teacher, young carer worker or youth worker about what to do next.
If you’ve filled this journal in on your own and would like to find out where to get help and support, have a look at Carers.org/support-for-young-and-young-adult-carers.
You can trust us!
