Cash for Kids, a Radio Clyde and CSV Charity, has donated nearly £45,000 to The Princess Royal Trust Renfrewshire Young Carers’ Project to enable them to identify young carers in schools.

Renfrewshire Young Carers’ project will use the money to employ a Schools Education Worker to identify young carers in schools so that they can be provided with the services and support which will enable them to rediscover what it is to be a child again.

The Young Carers Project wants to expand some of their positive work in schools, to make all teachers aware that young carers exist in their classrooms. The Schools Education Worker will target primary and secondary school staff, helping them to be aware of the 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.

Diane Goodman, Manager of Renfrewshire Carers’ Centre, says: ‘The majority of young carers receive no help at all, mainly because they are not identified as young carers yet they may be carrying out a caring role which even an adult would find onerous. Very often they are the only carer for a parent with a physical or mental illness.’

Diane continues: ‘Young carers may not have time to make friends at school, to take part in after school activities or to do homework. Young carers are often bullied, causing them to miss school altogether.’
Young carers are underpinning our society. While for many it can be a positive learning experience, it can also be at great personal cost to their physical and mental health, their education and their future. Young carers can be as young as primary school age and often cook, clean the house, do the shopping and supervise medicines. They can even be responsible for the personal care of a parent or take control of the family budget.

Once identified, young carers can be helped by The Princess Royal Trust Renfrewshire Young Carers’ Project in a variety of ways. Young Carers’ Support Workers can help the family to access respite care, benefits and community support, while encouraging the young carer to take part in recreational activities.

Renfrewshire Young Carers’ Project helps young carers all over Renfrewshire no matter what their circumstances and is based at 16 Silk Street, Paisley. The Project can be contacted on 0141 887 3643.