Update by Sarah Dickinson Schools Programme Manager for North Wales Young Carers

Back in 2020, The Neumark Foundation began to fund our innovative programme to support schools across North Wales, to help them identify hidden young carers, and to offer these pupils and schools tailored support. With appropriate support, evidence has shown that despite their challenges, these young carers can achieve a greater quality of life for themselves. Structured support and greater understanding from staff and peers in schools, can enhance their enjoyment of their education experience, encouraging more effective and positive learning, and this often leads to a significant reduction in absences from school.

This important programme, run by ourselves, at North Wales Young Carers, has grown significantly over the last two years, and we are really excited to bring you an update on the progress we have made.

Despite the disruption to education, over the last two years, 358 children and young people have been identified across Wrexham, Denbighshire and Conwy, as young carers. Since identifying these children and young people, each of them has received a tailored support plan, to be used by their school, to improve their education experience, and help them achieve towards their true potential.  

The plan is to further expand the service, making it available to more schools, with the aim of identifying and supporting more children who are currently hidden, unidentified young carers. We are at present, recruiting new staff, with further additional support through a collaborative funding partnership between The Neumark Foundation, The Waterloo Foundation, and Steve Morgan Foundation.