EVC Spring 2026_magazine_AWdigital - Flipbook - Page 17
Young carers
Why young carers need residentials
It enriches their education when the
activities are linked to the curriculum.
It helps to build their confidence and
social skills.
They can do things they can’t always
do with their families, such as camping,
outdoor activities and seeing new places.
They can spend time with their
friends, which they may not be
able to do at home.
They get a much-needed break from
their caring role and can enjoy being
looked after for a change.
How schools can help
Know who your young carers are: It’s not
always obvious because children often
don’t think of themselves as carers, so
they don’t ask for help or even mention
their role. One way is to look for child
protection cases, concerns around
parental mental illness or drug or alcohol
addiction, or if there’s a sibling with
SEND/Child in Need. Those families often
contain young carers, and it’s a good
place to start.
Make a support plan for young carers
for any educational visit, just as you do
for a child with health needs. The most
likely challenge is how to get the young
person home if there’s a family health
crisis. You will already have a plan for a
home emergency, so be prepared to apply
it to a young carer. Go through the plan
with the family so they feel supported
and confident that the school will handle
anything unexpected.
Work with the DSL: Schools should have
a DSL to support students and staff with
safeguarding. The DSL should work with
the EVC to support the young carer and
enable them to take part in educational
visits.
Care for the carer: There are practical
things that you can do on the visit itself,
such as letting the child phone home,
and allocating a teacher to keep a close
eye on them and make sure they’re
feeling OK.
Finally, make sure that the young carer isn’t
looking after their fellow pupils on the
visit; it often comes naturally to them!
But this is the perfect opportunity
to give them a proper break – the
benefits can be life-changing.
Andy McGowan is the
Policy and Practice
Manager at Carers
Trust, which works
to transform the
lives of unpaid carers
and ensure that they
are heard, valued
and supported.
With thanks to
young adult carer
Freya for her help
with this article.
Land and Wave School Trips
Adapt your itinerary: If the young carer
can’t stay for a five-day residential, can
they come for three days? Or come for the
day and not stay overnight? Also, make
sure that they are assessed for financial
support, even if they don’t meet the
usual criteria.
Be proactive: If a family has missed
a consent deadline or an information
evening, give them a call and offer to
help. Schools do this already for families
with particular needs, so just broaden the
net to include young carers.
THE EVC MAGAZINE – SPRING 2026
17
