Award-winning support for young carers in West Norfolk

The high standard of support offered to young carers at a Terrington St Clement school has been recognised anew by an award from a leading charity in the field.

Caring Together, which provides support for carers of all ages across Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, has once again granted its Carer Friendly Tick Award to St Clement’s High School, which has held the accolade for a number of years now.

“The Carer Friendly Tick Award is an award that schools can apply for to show that young carers are recognised and supported,” said Robyn Fisher, Lead for Young Carers at St Clement’s, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

“The award lasts two years and then you have to apply for renewal to ensure you are still meeting the high standards.”

Judging criteria include whether there is a named member of staff supporting young carers and if there is a Young Carer Champion; whether the school’s Young Carer Agreement has changed; how staff are trained to recognise and support young carers; and how issues relating to young carers are covered and awareness raised. The school was also required to provide a statement on the importance of the Award, along with supporting evidence from two anonymous young carers.

“I am the Young Carer Lead, so I arrange the staff training, raising awareness through assemblies et cetera, arrange the fortnightly Young Carer meetings, arrange one-to-one appointments, gathering all the evidence, arrange the end of year parties et cetera, and I submitted everything to Caring Together to get the Tick,” continued Mrs Fisher, who is also Pastoral Officer for Years 8 and 9 at St Clement's, and the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.

There are thought to be over 150,000 unpaid carers across the regions covered by Caring Together, and the charity’s Carer Friendly Tick Award rewards efforts made by schools and other organisations to identify, acknowledge and support these unsung heroes.

“It’s an amazing honour to hold the award,” added Mrs Fisher. “We feel it is very important, because it continues to raise awareness for our young carers and shows them, their families and the community we are here to help them.

“Luckily we have an amazing team of staff, and we have lots of support in place for our selfless young carers.”