Cash for Kids, a Radio Clyde and CSV Charity, has donated nearly £33,000 to The Princess Royal Trust South Ayrshire Young Carers’ Service to enable them to identify young carers in schools.

South Ayrshire Young Carers’ Service will use the money to employ a Schools Development Worker to work with staff in primary and secondary schools to help them identify young carers.

The new Schools Development Worker will target primary and secondary school staff and students, helping them to be aware of signs which indicate that a child may have caring responsibilities at home. These could include falling asleep in class, arriving late for school, failing to complete homework and not taking part in after school activities. Some young carers are absent from school for long periods because their parent is ill at home.

Barbara Hastings, Manager of The Princess Royal Trust South Ayrshire Carers’ Centre, says: ‘Our thanks are extended to Cash for Kids and South Ayrshire Council who have made this initiative possible. Many young people do not see themselves as carers, and continue to juggle school work and their caring role, often to the detriment of their own health and wellbeing.’

Young carers are underpinning our society at great personal cost to their own physical and mental health, their education and their future. The majority of young carers receive no help at all, yet they may be carrying out a caring role which even an adult would find onerous, such as shopping, making meals, administering medication, emotional support and looking after siblings. Very often they are the only carer for a parent with a physical or mental illness or drug/alcohol addiction.

Once identified, young carers can be helped by The Princess Royal Trust South Ayrshire Young Carers’ Service in a variety of ways. Young Carers’ Development Workers can help the family to access respite care, benefits and community support, while helping the young carers cope with their caring role, through individual or group support.

South Ayrshire Young Carers’ Service helps young carers from eight to 18 years old all over South Ayrshire no matter what their circumstances. The service is based at 78 Kyle Street, Ayr and can be contacted on 01 292 263000.