Ormiston Venture Academy has once again been awarded Caring Together’s Carer Friendly Tick Award (Education), in recognition of their continued work to identify and support carers.
Owen Cooper, head of student support, Ormiston Venture Academy, said the academy had a large number of young carers and know how important it is that they are able to fulfil their caring role as well as receive the very best education.
The academy said receiving the award has enabled them to compare what they do against national best practice, including the introduction of young carers champions. This gives young carers and the community the confidence that the academy are working to ensure they have the best care in place.
He said, “the work of our young carers is exceptional, and we will continue to work with them to support this important role.”
Abbie-Gail, young carer in year 10, did not realise she was a young carer before she came to Venture Academy.
She said, “I now get help from my school. They referred me to extra after school activities and groups such as the Gorleston young carers forum run by Caring Together. This makes me feel even more supported outside the school. As a young carer it is so important that we are recognised at school and I am lucky to have their support.”
Andy McGowan, head of carer services at Caring Together, said: “We know that young carers found it particularly hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. They told us that their education and mental health had been negatively impacted during the various lockdowns and restrictions. Schools and colleges taking the initiative to identify and support their pupils who are young carers is hugely important and makes a real difference.
“Therefore, we are very pleased to see Ormiston Venture Academy having their work to identify and support young carers recognised by the Carer Friendly Tick Award. We want to congratulate them on this and to thank them for the work that they are doing which brings real benefits to young carers and their families.”
Caring Together works to help raise the awareness of carers in the community with health, social care and education professionals, and employers.
The Carer Friendly Tick Award was originally developed for education by young carers from Caring Together’s Norfolk Young Carers Forum (NYCF) project. The success of this meant the awards have been rolled out across Norfolk, Peterborough and Cambridgeshire to now include community, health and employer awards.
These recognise the valuable work done in identifying and supporting carers carried out by each type of organisations. The Carer Friendly Tick is a set of standards which were designed with carers, and which are assessed entirely by carers.
For more information about the Carer Friendly Tick Award please visit caringtogether.org/carer-friendly-tick or email [email protected]
