A free-to-access resource has been launched by Child Bereavement UK in collaboration with the London Grid for Learning to help education professionals support bereaved pupils with SEND.
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK helps families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. They support children and young people (up to the age of 25) when someone important to them has died or is not expected to live, and parents and the wider family when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying.
They also have resources on their website for supporting bereaved children and provide training to professionals.
UCAS information for students with caring responsibilities
Information from UCAS covering a range of topics for carers. This includes support available to carers in higher education, how to share more information about your caring responsibilities on your UCAS application, financial support for carers in higher education, and mental health and wellbeing.
Toolkit for children and young people affected and bereaved by suicide: Chilypep
Toolkit for parents, carers and professionals to use with children and young people affected and bereaved by suicide, plus a map of services and support available across the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw ICS area.
‘Exploring the cost of living crisis’ resource pack (National Youth Agency)
The Late Crew: Book for 8-11 year olds by Rab Ferguson
The Late Crew is aimed at 8-11 year olds and is a story of young carers investigating alien activity! As well as being an entertaining alien adventure book for young people to read, there are 3 aims behind The Late Crew:
Young carers will be excited to see themselves in a book!
Other young people will understand what it means to be a carer.
Some children will read it and realise that they are a carer, even if they didn't know before.
The author, Rab Ferguson, is happy to attend schools to deliver workshops around the book, and making up aliens! Onwe Press also offer discounts for schools interested in buying a few copies. To find out more, email thelatecrew@outlook.com or visit https://www.thelatecrew.co.uk/.
You can also buy the book directly through online stores such as Hive, Blackwells, Waterstones, Amazon and other book retailers.
Learning through Caring: Children's University credits for learning through caring responsibilities
In acknowledgment of the barriers that many young carers face to accessing Children’s University (CU) activities, Sheffield Children’s University and SYC have developed a ‘Learning Through Caring’ programme. This enables young carers to receive 1 CU credit per week in recognition of learning and skills development that takes place through their caring responsibilities. This requires termly review discussion with a member of school staff, so young carers can reflect on the valuable life skills they have developed through their responsibilities at home; realise how transferable these skills are for college, university, employment and later life; and receive CU credits and awards for their efforts. Click here for full details.
Amplify Graphic Novels: Lung Theatre
Amplify:
Speak to Me (Made by Dermot Daly, Tessie Orange-Turner and Elorm)
On the Inside (Made by Gitika Buttoo, Naureen Hafeez, Naila, Hussain, K.A & Darim)
Two graphic novels co-created with young carers to creatively, safely and meaningfully reflect on their own experiences and advocate for the rights of Black and South Asian young carers.
Changes to the school census from Spring 2023
Changes to the school census: From Spring 2023, there is going to be a new Young Carer indicator on the schools’ census return for all schools (not nurseries). This indicator will record whether the pupil has been identified as a young carer and by whom. For more information, watch a webinar about this here.
Other useful resources:
#WeCareToo Animations (experiences of young carers aged 8-15)
Young carers aged 8-15 from across Newcastle have created four x 1 minute animated films to help get greater recognition of young carers and more young carers being identified.
All of the young carers involved in developing the animations receive support from Newcastle Carers.
UCAS application tips for young carers
The Mix website full of tips and blogs for and by young carers about applying to university
Carers Inspiration Project
A collection of inspiring stories from carers who successfully applied to further/higher education and were successful despite the challenges and adversity caring can bring.
CHAT - Children Harmed by Alcohol Toolkit
A range of interactive materials that can be used with children, young people and families to build resilience and protective factors
Young Minds
Mental health support for you or for young people in your care. Filter content based on whether you're a young person, parent or professional working with young people, to get where you need to go as quickly as possible.
Anti Bullying Alliance: Free online training course
Research has shown that young carers are a vulnerable group and are significantly more likely to be bullied. This short course will give you a good understanding of Young Carers and Bullying. It takes approximately 15-30 minutes to complete. Their website also contains other information, videos and links to reports around young carers and bullying.
Protecting Young Carers from Bullying: A Guide for Schools, Community Groups and Policy Makers
This guide is aimed at all professionals who work with young people and are therefore likely to come across young carers. This includes those working in a dedicated young carers service, a school, a community group, or in a health or social care setting. The aim of the guide, is to raise the awareness and understanding of the relationship between being a young carer and bullying, in order that proactive steps can be taken to help prevent young carers from being bullied.
COVID-19: Helping Young People Manage Low Mood and Depression (free online course)
Free online Future Learn course to explore practical ways to help young people manage their mood and maintain healthy habits during the coronavirus pandemic. On this course, young people, parents, carers, teachers, and other professionals can learn helpful, practical techniques to cope with low mood and depression during the lockdown period and beyond. (Course length - 2 weeks @ 2 hours per week, done in own time)
‘Time For Us’ pack by Mental Health Foundation Scotland
Activity pack for parents and carers to help adults and children talk about their feelings
Coronavirus explained in multiple languages
Child friendly explanations of Covid-19 in multiple languages (available for download)
Thinking Styles - Mindwell Leeds
Lots of useful information and resources on negative thoughts and how to challenge these.