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Schools Urged to Appoint Young Carer Champions
7 Oct
Summary
- A petition seeks to mandate a Young Carers Champion in every English school.
- This role would identify and support pupils with significant home responsibilities.
- Young carers like Kacey Musson, 19, highlight the need for understanding staff.
There is a growing movement to establish a dedicated Young Carer Lead in every school across England. This initiative, championed by Mid-Dorset and North Poole MP Vikki Slade in conjunction with MYTIME Young Carers, aims to create legislation requiring all schools to appoint a Young Carers Champion.
The proposed role is designed to identify students who are caring for family members, often taking on substantial responsibilities at home. Many young carers go unnoticed, potentially missing out on vital support they are entitled to.
Charities like Be Free Young Carers support this call, stating that a dedicated lead would significantly aid young carers in overcoming challenges and achieving success. Kacey Musson, 19, who has cared for her mother since childhood, emphasized the profound difference having an understanding staff member at school could have made during her own struggles with balancing caregiving and studies.
