Your Say: Supporting Young Carers
Young carers do an amazing job.
Juggling caring responsibilities with school work is not always easy and the right support can make all the difference.
Lauren – who is a young carer – has shared how important it has been for her teachers to listen and involve her in decisions about her support.
Find out more from Lauren below:
“I’ve had support from the most amazing pastoral teacher. She helped and guided me into the next path that I’m about to take. I’m forever grateful that I’ve had her support.”
How did Lauren feel before she got support?
“Until I started getting support from my pastoral head, I was in a horrible place at school. I bottled up all my stress and worry about home life and life as a carer and it was eating me up.
One day I burst into tears in the middle of a class because I didn’t understand what was going on. The stress got too much for me. And that was my first encounter with my pastoral teacher.”
What difference has getting the right support made for Lauren?
“Since then I’ve gone nowhere but upwards, achieving National 5s, Highers and even having a stab at an Advanced Higher, as well as getting a place at university.”
What message does Lauren have for other young carers and schools?
“I’ve heard so many stories about young carers not receiving any support from school and I don’t know what I would do without my pastoral teacher. She’s been my safety net more times than either of us imagined!”
How does Lauren feel looking forward?
“Because of all the support I’ve had from school and from the Young Carers Project, I feel ready to experience university life while being a Young Adult Carer because I know who I can turn to.”
Good relationships between pupils and staff are important for learning. If you think you need a bit more help at school, talk to a teacher or another adult you trust. They can help you find out what support is available for young carers in your school.
Who else can help me?
The Carers Trust can help you find how to access support in your area. You can also find your local carer support service by entering your town or post code.
Young Scot offer a Young Carers Package that you can register for on their website.
If you are aged between 12 and 15 and don’t feel like you are getting the right support at school, My Rights, My Say can help. They work with young people to make sure that they are able to use their right to be involved in decision about their support.