Calls for 'Designated Young Carer Lead' in every South Yorkshire school
Two thirds say they're more worried about the future now than at the start of the pandemic
Last updated 16th Mar 2021
There are calls for more support in South Yorkshire schools for the pandemic's "invisible army" of young carers.
New stats show two thirds are more worried about the future now than they were before Covid struck - with lockdown, school closures and financial insecurity all playing their part in raising stress and anxiety levels.
Thomas is 17 and cares for his mum and dad in Sheffield who live apart and both have health problems.
He says Covid's had a big impact on his mental health:
"I'm terrified that I'm going to bring it home to my family because I'm the only one who leaves the house. I go to the shops, I go to school, so I'm at increased risk of bringing it back. So I'm constantly terrified that a member of my family's going to get ill."
A petition's now calling for a new law to make it a requirement for all schools to designate a member of staff as a 'Young Carer Lead'.
The idea is it'll make sure there's someone for young carers to turn to in every school.
A petition calling for the change has now got more than 700 signatures.
Thomas says he's struggled getting the right help:
"There was no support there, no one really to talk to, that I felt safe talking to because I felt like I was going to get in trouble. Which is something that a lot of young carers feel- that if they talk about what they're going through, social services might get involved, they might get taken away from their family.
"Teachers don't even have the slightest idea of what we go through. If you forget your homework and you say look I'm sorry, I've just been busy, they say that's not a good enough excuse.
"But if I've had my dad falling, I've had my mum being ill, I've had to run around looking after them them so I'm fatigued and I have a lot of other things on my mind, I might not be able to do the work they require of me.
"Most teachers won't understand your situation so having someone there that can fight those fights on your behalf, if you miss homework or you have to be off school for a bit so you don't have to take that on yourself, would be a massive relief for so many people."
14 year old Rebecca, who lives in Sheffield, cares for her sister who has autism and ADHD.
She says she hasn't had a huge amount of help from teachers during the pandemic:
"School's really tough at the minute - they really haven't supported me in the way that I need supporting. Us as young carers, we need extra support, we need them to be there for us, we need them to ask if we're alright, if we need support, or even if we just need help catching up."
Today is Young Carers Action Day, with many charities calling for more support for them.
The Carers Trust wants a national action plan from the government to protect their future.
Katie Borland's from the charity Sheffield Young Carers tells us the support in schools is vital:
"Some of the young people who we support have got fantastic support in place, others nothing at all and sometimes are feeling like they're being penalised for being young carers. We want the government to create this level playing field for young people so that everyone can expect to have support in school.
"The impact of the pandemic on young carers has been huge - the additional anxiety and worry that it's caused. It's going to take quitea qhile to come out of this. It's really important we're putting in permanent structures to support young people."
A Government spokesperson said:
“Young carers perform an indispensable role in looking after their loved ones and we want to thank them for all they’ve done during these unprecedented times.
"We recognise how challenging this period is, and the Government launched a campaign last September with Every Mind Matters to raise awareness of the guidance and tools available to support children and young people’s mental wellbeing.
“Young carers must be able to take advantage of opportunities beyond their caring responsibilities and we are determined to give them the support they need. To help pupils make up for lost learning and experiences, we are investing £700 million through a dedicated catch up programme.”