Targeted sessions during Mental Health Awareness Week
A report from the Carers Trust found nearly half of young carers felt stressed and a further 44% were tired.
It’s no wonder they might struggle – carrying such a responsibility while also juggling school and the other challenges (and delights) of youth.
So, I felt honoured to be able to offer some targeted sessions this Mental Health Awareness Week for young carers at a compassionate and forward thinking school.
I spent a few hours with 40 young carers, running creative and fun group sessions using The Young People Index and Lego Serious Play.
Many of these young people have caring responsibilities outside of school, and often students like this are invisible within education – but not at The Bourne Academy.
The amazing team at The Bourne Academy have organised a brilliant programme to support these young carers, from running Lego workshops, providing them with 1:2:1 career guidance using The Young People Index, Employer visits and a trip to Lego Land!
‘As part of our Young Aspirers programme, Helen Rivero delivered a very successful self- awareness workshop, using the Young People Index and Lego. They were all able to relate to the strengths profile provided by the YPIndex and then enjoyed using Lego to help define their own strengths to their peers. The students, from Years 9 and 10 (13-15 year olds), were all selected as young carers who are in need of the extra support from school to develop their careers choices.
The Bourne Academy careers strategy aims to target our resources to particular groups such as SEN, scholars and young carers on top of the progressive careers provision for all. This programme was funded by the soon to be phased out Southern Universities Network (SUN)’ (Andrew Roberts-Wray).
Well done to the students who really embraced the self awareness session and delved into some reflective exercises with their friends. How do you support your young carers?
#YoungCarers #MHAW2024 #MentalHealth #YouthDevelopment