Young Carers

A young carer is someone under 18 who helps look after someone in their family, or a friend, who is ill, disabled or misuses drugs or alcohol. 

Young carers do all kinds of things to help out at home. They may:

• do chores
• ​cook meals
• do the washing and cleaning
• help a parent or sibling get up, washed and dressed
• order, collect and give medicine
• do the shopping
• make phone calls on a parent's behalf
• translate
• deal with professionals
• pay bills or provide emotional support

This additional responsibility may impact on the young person's day-to day life, for example:

• having less energy than their peers
• the inability to complete homework
• a lack of opportunity to foster friendships out of school
• finding time for themselves

At Portfield, we aim to provide support for the young carers in our school through a range of opportunities and support programmes, for example:

• referring to 'West Sussex Young Carers' services
• providing emotional support through 1:1 sessions with trained staff members (training provided by West Sussex Young Carers)
• prioritising young carers for school club places. e.g. young carers support club, breakfast and homework clubs or personal interest clubs (such as football club)
• offering practical support for families of young carers

School Young Carers Champion: Nicki Graham, Wellbeing Lead - nicki.graham@portfield-tkat.org

School Senior Leadership Team Young Carers Lead: Andrew Strong, Headteacher - head@portfield-tkat.org