Survey reveals majority of young carers lack support from school
Emily Watson
Monday, May 17, 2010
More than half of young carers do not feel supported by their schools, according to the results of a survey by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers and The Children's Society.
The survey of 700 young carers aged six to 18 found that 60 per cent do not feel their teachers understand what life is like for them, 38 per cent worry abut the person they care about while at school and 39 per cent said that none of their teachers are aware of their caring role.
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers chief executive Carole Cochrane said: "It is shocking to discover that so many young carers have to endure bullying, mental health problems and a lack of support from their teachers, all because they care for a family member who is unable to cope without their help.
"Sadly, without the right support, many young carers will underachieve or drop out of school altogether, which has a long and enduring impact on their future prospects."
The trust has launched a resource pack for schools with young carers today in response to the findings. The Supporting Young Carers: a resource for schools information pack will feature alongside a poster campaign in secondary schools across the UK.
"The aim of this resource is to empower schools to start identifying and supporting young carers. We know that when school staff are involved in supporting young carers it can make a huge difference to their lives," added Cochrane.
