Young Carers

A young carer is someone under 18 who is providing unpaid care for a family member or friend who is mentally or physically unwell, frail, disabled, or misuses substances or has mental ill health. Young carers often take on practical and/or emotional responsibilities that would typically be expected of an adult. The latest Census data for Wales states there are 22,520 unpaid carers aged 5–24 years caring for family members in Wales. However, many young carers do not recognise themselves as such, which means these figures may not fully reflect the true number of young and young adult carers providing daily support to family members. We know that young carers may need a little extra support to thrive at school. At Heolddu Comprehensive School, we are committed to ensuring that all pupils who are young carers are identified and supported effectively.

We are also thrilled that in June 2024, we were awarded the Beyond the Basics level of the Gwent Young Carers in Schools Programme, recognising the support we have in place for young carers at Heolddu.

Some of our initiatives include access to a breakfast club to ensure young carers start their day with a nutritious meal, as well as regular young carer meetings led by Mrs Lavelle from our School Support Team. Additionally, we have young carer representatives on our School Senedd, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are addressed. Our programme also offers exclusive trips, such as recent visits to Cardiff University and Cwmcarn Forest Drive, providing young carers with opportunities for enrichment and respite. For those needing further support, we facilitate referrals to Caerphilly County’s Young Carer Teams.

If you think you or your child may be a young carer, please reach out to us directly using the contact information below to explore the support options available.

Alternatively, please click here to take you to Caerphilly County Borough's Young Carer Support Page.