School Groups for Young Carers
Schools can effectively support pupils with caring responsibilities by allowing opportunities for them to meet, interact, offer and receive peer support. This can positively impact a child’s wellbeing as they feel understood by others experiencing similar situations, learn ways to cope with emotions and widen their network of support.
Our mentoring programme has grown incredibly popular, and we have worked very hard to secure additional funding to upscale it and support higher numbers of young carers with access to a better-quality support programme.
School based groups allow young carers to:
- Connect with one another;
- learn about their own strengths and skills;
- be listened to, encouraged and supported;
- learn about the local support available including their own school provision;
- shape and lead future young carers’ initiatives within the school and the community.
Programme goals
Emotional support
Help young carers feel understood and valued.
Skills development
Equip young carers with coping strategies, emotional regulation, and time management tools.
Peer connection
Reduce isolation by fostering a supportive group environment.
Academic balance
Provide guidance on balancing schoolwork and caring responsibilities.
Sustaining healthier caring roles
- Informing young carers of support available within the school and in the local community, specifically through Barnet Young Carers.
Giving young carers a voice
This space could also be used for young carers to voice out their ideas about what can be done within the school to make young carers feel further supported, so Barnet Young Carers shares these ideas with the school Young Carers Lead or main contact.
How does it work
The peer support programme is available to schools that have already identified young carers. There should be a minimum of 6 young carers for a peer support group to work well although they can be of different ages. Barnet Young Carers will setup and develop the first four sessions of the peer support group, and will support the school to continue the delivery of this support by facilitating a space for the young carers to regularly meet and interact, ideally by involving young carer student champions and Young Carer Leads.
Session structure overview
Each session will combine discussion, interactive activities, and reflection. The four initial sessions are facilitated by a trained Barnet Young Carers Mentor and include 6–10 participants for effective engagement. After the fourth session, we hope that your school can continue to deliver the peer support group, so it is a regular supportive space for existing and newly identified young carers. Barnet Young Carers will provide some guidance on continuing the peer support group to the school Young Carer Lead or assigned person, so it bridges the group discussions and wishes of young carers.
We have just started a bi-weekly session with Barnet Young Carers at Woodcroft School. It is absolutely brilliant.
We have 12 children already involved and looks like it could be increasing.
It is for one hour in school time. The children are loving the experience and it really does make them feel special
You can book a meeting with our Schools Manager, Sandra Langham, by emailing here. Sandra will be happy to come and meet you and talk you through the range of services that we have for young carers and for schools.
contact us
Monday to Friday: 9am - 4:30pm
Address
Barnet Young Carers
Global House, 303 Ballards Lane
N12 8NP
Phone
0203 995 1909