Young Carers
Young Carers at SRPA
At Sir Robert Pattinson Academy, we are young carer friendly and recognise the difficulties our young carers may experience with their attendance, attainment and their general well-being. Our Young Carer Champions are Miss J Lilley and Miss A McLellan, alongside our SLT Young Carer Champion Mr A Parkinson.
Who are young carers?
A young carer is someone under the age of 18 who looks after a family member or friend who has an illness, a disability, is affected by mental ill-health or has an addiction. They may also look after brothers, sisters or elderly relatives too.
A young carer may undertake some or all of the following:
- Practical tasks, such as cooking, housework and shopping.
- Physical care, such as lifting, helping a parent/carer on stairs or with physiotherapy.
- Personal care, such as dressing, washing, helping with toileting needs.
- Managing the family budget, collecting benefits and prescriptions.
- Administering medication.
- Looking after or ‘parenting’ younger siblings.
- Emotional support.
- Interpreting, due to a hearing or speech impairment or because English is not the family’s first language.
SRPA Support
We have a weekly breaktime club called Young Carers’ Community (YCC), which is a relaxed environment where pupils can come to unwind and seek support when needed. This is also a great place to build relationships with fellow young carers and benefit from peer support. The club is supported by one of our older young carer students in Year 13.
We run more formal young carer sessions at regular points throughout the year which cover a variety of topics e.g. managing stress, confidence building and careers. We can also provide students with confidential support and advice through our mentoring programme and RCC referrals. Students may be mentored by one of our staff Young Carer Champions or an older student.
All academy staff are made aware of students identified as young carers and they receive regular training on how they can understand and support these students. We allow young carers to telephone home during break and lunchtimes if needed, so they can check on the person they care for.
Further Information
Students, staff and parent/carers also have access to our young carers’ email address youngcarers@srpa.co.uk if they wish to notify us that a student is a young carer or if circumstances have changed.
External Support
The Lincolnshire Young Carers Service supports young carers up to the age of 19.
Young carers are under 18 and are not usually the next of kin. Sometimes, professionals do not feel they can share confidential information with them. The young carer card can help prevent issues around age and consent.
An organisation providing support for promoting mental health and wellbeing among adolescent young carers.
A charity which exists to support people who grow up with or have grown up with a sibling who has a disability, special educational needs or a serious long-term condition.
Carers Trust runs a network of local carer organisations in England, Scotland and Wales. They offer information, advice, practical support and/or care in the home to unpaid carers of all ages.
A free, safe and anonymous place for young people to find support and counselling

