On Thursday 9th May I was asked to present a very worthy
Young Carers Charter to one of the schools local
to where I was born in County Durham.
There are 175,000 known young carers in the UK,
and many more who are young carers but are unknown,
who care for a family member
for one unfortunate reason or other.
A young carer is someone aged 18 or under who helps
to look after a relative who has a disability, illness,
mental health condition or drug or alcohol problem.
mental health condition or drug or alcohol problem.
Having read the Charter, it is to be applauded in it's thoughtfulness,
understanding and compassion shown towards young carers
who may be performing difficult
but necessary tasks in their home environment–tasks beyond
what are expected of children so young.
The Northern Echo
TWO schools have been rewarded for
supporting pupils
who have caring responsibilities at home and others are being
encouraged to follow their example.
Chilton Primary School and Woodham
Academy,
in Newton Aycliffe were this week presented
with copies of the County
Durham Young Carers Charter.
Both schools have worked with Family
Action Durham Young Carers
to create a supportive environment for those
youngsters
who help to look after loved ones.
Glynis Newby,
educational
development worker with Family Action, said:
“One in 12 children is a young carer
so we want
all schools in County Durham to sign up to the charter,
it involves
simple inexpensive steps to make
the live of young carers better.”
To sign up to the charter each
school built an environment
where young carers and their families feel safe,
accepted and understood and raised awareness among staff
and pupils of the
pressures some young carers may face.
Young carers should then know they
can turn to
someone at school for help, be it emotional or practical.
Children’s book illustrator Stuart
Trotter,
originally from Ferryhill,
presented Chilton Primary School with its
award yesterday
(Thursday, May 9).
Mr Trotter, whose work includes
illustrating
the Rupert Bear annuals since 2008,
Postman Pat and Kipper books,
said:
“To throw a comforting and
supporting arm around pupils
and families has to be applauded.”
By Catherine Priestley,
Chief Reporter Northern Echo.
