On Thursday 30 January – Young Carers Awareness Day – Sefton Carers Centre will be celebrating its work identifying and supporting young carers, alongside schools and colleges in Sefton.
The Sefton Young Carers Team will be spending the day speaking to students at Southport College and Hugh Baird College, as well as highlighting their work with primary and secondary schools across the borough.
Recent research shows that one in five secondary school children may be a young carer. For many, their caring journey begins at a much younger age. Caring for someone can be very isolating, worrying and stressful. For young carers this can negatively impact on their experiences and outcomes in education, having a lasting effect on their life chances.
Through the Count Me In! campaign Carers Trust is calling on compulsory education providers to do more to proactively identify young carers and to ensure that they receive the recognition and support they deserve.
Vicky Keeley, CEO of Sefton Carers Centre, said: “Our Sefton Young Carers Team are encouraging schools and colleges in Sefton to ensure that young carers are properly identified and supported so that their education does not suffer because of their caring role at home.”
“Through programmes such as Young Carers in Schools we can give staff the tools to support young people and help make sure that all young carers in Sefton are given the best chance to succeed.”
In addition to their work with education providers the Sefton Young Carers Team also run groups to support young carers after school and organise fun activity breaks during the school holidays – a time when young carers can be at their most isolated.
To find out more about all of the free support services that Sefton Carers Centre provides please visit www.sefton-carers.org.uk or call 0151 288 6060, Monday – Friday (9.00am – 4.30pm). Sefton Carers Centre is a registered charity in England and Wales No. 312443.
“In Sefton, we are currently looking for adoptive families for 16 local children and young people. We know that we often receive enquiries from across the Liverpool City Region, so it makes sense that we are collaborating with our neighbours to meet the challenges we face together and increase the potential for our vulnerable children to find a forever family.