Young Carers
At St Katherine's we are committed to meeting the needs of young carers so that they can attend and enjoy school in the same way as other children and achieve their potential.
Who are Young Carers?
A child or young person under the age of 18 who:
- provides practical, social and/or emotional support to a relative
- takes on additional responsibilities to those appropriate to their age and development
- provides the main care, or shares responsibilities with another family member, this could include support for someone living at home, or outside of the home.
- The person they care for may be a parent, sibling, or grandparent and have one or more of the following: alcohol and/or substance misuse, learning difficulties or disabilities, chronic illness, mental health issues or physical disability, difficulties in coping with being a parent or carer.
What might a Young Carer do?
- Practical tasks, like cooking, housework and shopping.
- Physical care, such as helping someone out of bed.
- Emotional support, including talking to someone who is distressed.
- Personal care, such as helping someone dress, wash etc.
- Managing the family budget and collecting prescriptions.
- Helping to give medicine.
- Helping someone communicate.
- Looking after brothers and sisters.
A designated Young Carers' School Lead has the responsibility for young carers and their families and can provide the necessary support and guidance.
Please take a look at out Young Carers Policy for more information.