At St Philomena’s, we are committed to ensuring every student has the support they need to thrive, both academically and personally. We recognise that for some of our students, daily life involves responsibilities that go beyond those of their peers. These students are Young Carers.
Many young people do not realise they are "carers"; they simply see themselves as a daughter or sibling helping someone they love. However, these extra responsibilities can sometimes impact a student's well-being or school work. We want to ensure these students are identified, celebrated, and supported.
What is a Young Carer?
A Young Carer is a person under the age of 18 who provides (or intends to provide) care for another person, such as a family member, who is ill, disabled or has a mental health condition.
The tasks they perform are varied and depend entirely on the needs of the person they look after. Often, these are responsibilities typically associated with an adult role:
|
Category |
Examples of Tasks |
|
Practical / Domestic |
Cooking, cleaning, laundry, or running errands like grocery shopping. |
|
Personal Care |
Helping someone wash, dress, use the bathroom, or move around. |
|
Health & Medication |
Administering medication, attending medical appointments, or monitoring symptoms. |
|
Financial & Admin |
Managing family budgets, paying bills, or interpreting/translating. |
|
Emotional Support |
Providing a listening ear, comforting a distressed family member, or keeping them safe. |
How We Support Students in School
If you believe your daughter has caring responsibilities, please know that school is a safe space to talk. We can offer flexibility with homework, emotional check-ins, or simply a quiet space when things feel overwhelming.
Who can your daughter talk to?
- The Safeguarding Team
- Their Head of Year
- Their Head of School
- Ms Babudu
External Support: Sutton Young Carers
Beyond the school gates, there is specialised support available through the Local Authority. As St. Philomena’s is in Sutton Authority, this is Sutton Young Carers. This service provides targeted help for young people aged 8–25 who have caring responsibilities. This service should also exist in all other Local Authorities.
- Website: org/young-carers-services
- Telephone: 020 8296 5611
- Email: enquiries@suttoncarerscentre.org
If you feel your daughter’s role at home fits this description, or if you would like to discuss how we can better support your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to me by email yc@stphils.org.uk.
