Supporting Young Carers in Schools

Many young carers remain hidden within schools – often without the support or recognition they need.

At Basingstoke & District Young Carers, we work in partnership with schools to help identify, support and empower young carers.

What is a Young Carer?

A young carer is a child or young person whose daily life is affected by the illness, disability, mental health condition, addiction or additional needs of a family member.

Some young carers provide practical or emotional support at home. Others may not see themselves as carers at all. However, the needs of someone in their familycan still create additional responsibilities, pressures, worries or challenges that affect their childhood.

They may help look after a parent, sibling or relative. They may worry about a loved one, miss out on opportunities enjoyed by their friends, take on responsibilitiesbeyond their years, or find that family circumstances affect their confidence, education, wellbeing or social life.

Many young carers do not recognise that their experiences are different and may never come forward for support.

Why This Matters

Young carers are often hidden within schools, and without the right support, their education and wellbeing can be significantly affected.

  • 75% of young carers are hidden within schools
  • 44% struggle with studying because of the challenges they face at home
  • 48% have experienced bullying

Recognising and supporting young carers early can make a significant difference to their outcomes.

Our Schools Partnership Approach

We work alongside schools to help build a simple, effective support structure for young carers.

Schools lead their internal approach; we provide guidance, resources, and support.

What this looks like in practice:

  • Supporting the identification of young carers within your school
  • Helping establish a Young Carer Champion
  • Providing practical guidance and resources
  • Supporting awareness across staff and students
  • Helping create safe spaces and support systems

What Support Can Look Like

Every school is different, but effective support for young carers can include:

Resources for Schools

We provide a range of ready-to-use resources to support schools in developing their approach:

  • Young Carer Champion poster
  • Awareness poster for students
  • Schools support guidance poster

These resources can also be personalised with your school branding.

Young Carer Champion

Each school is encouraged to identify a Young Carer Champion – a trusted member of staff who young carers can speak to in confidence.

This role is key to:

  • building trust
  • providing consistent support
  • ensuring young carers are recognised

Work With Us

If your school would like to strengthen support for young carers, we’d love to hear fromyou.

Contact Us