“Romsey Young Carers delivers an exceptional and deeply thoughtful school support programme for children and young people with caring responsibilities. What stands out most is not only the passion and commitment of the staff, but the highly reflective and evidence-informed way they approach supporting young carers across different age groups.

The programmes they have developed, including the Unsinkables for primary-aged children and the Exploration Programme for secondary students, create safe, engaging, and highly supportive environments where young carers can build confidence, develop emotional understanding, strengthen their sense of identity, and feel less isolated in their experiences. The use of creative, play-based, and process-focused approaches throughout the sessions aligns strongly with current research in educational psychology, child development, and wellbeing.

Importantly, the staff at Romsey Young Carers demonstrate a genuine understanding that supporting children is not simply about providing activities, but about creating spaces where they feel listened to, valued, and capable of growth. Their work reflects a strong commitment to helping young people develop resilience, self-belief, belonging, and future aspirations while recognising the “unique challenges they may face.

It has been a privilege to collaborate with Romsey Young Carers, and I have been consistently impressed by the quality of their practice, the care they show toward young people, and their ongoing desire to reflect, learn, and continually strengthen the support they provide to schools and families.


Dr William Zoppelini – Coffee & Theory


ROMSEY YOUNG CARERS

As a charity, we have a great history linking and supporting the schools across the district.

We have worked hard to develop our school offering so that we can support schools to meet not only the needs of the young carers but also help them overcome some of the barriers that are unique to each of them.


For most young carers school is a place where they can forget about their caring responsibilities. A haven of safety and normality, away from what some experience as a chaotic home life. For others, school can be a challenging place, where they may feel lonely and at times misunderstood, making the pressure of school compound their already difficult lives. As a result, some encounter barriers to their learning which can manifest in underachievement, attendance, bullying, and mental health/behavioral challenges.

get started now

Our schools offer

As a charity we are not funded to deliver work in schools but we do everything we can within our capacity to support as we know and value the contribution that our schools make to their young carers. We do our best to offer what we can, but we do ask for a contribution for our services which are agreed with each school based on their needs so each program can be tailored.  We have an excellent track record of support for our schools and have been noted in ofsted inspection reports.  

Please contact Keren@romseyyoungcarers.org.uk for further details.

Below is an example of how or schools offer is set out


Bronze (Free)


  *3 group exploration (*) sessions per year led by an RYC staff.

  *Staff training.

  *Awareness raising assembly led by RYC staff

  *‘Carers Star’ (*) initial assessments and reviews.


Silver


  *Monthly group exploration sessions led by RYC staff.

  *Staff training.

  *Devising an assembly with the school YC

  *Devising a notice board with the school YC

 * Supporting school to complete the YC school award.

  *‘Carers Star’ initial assessments and reviews.


Gold 


  *Fortnightly group exploration sessions led by RYC staff.

*Staff training.

  *Devising an assembly with the school YC

  *Devising and updating a notice board with the school YC

  *Supporting school to complete the YC school award.

  *‘Carers Star’ initial assessments and reviews.


*Carers Star-

Evidence based tool designed to capture young carers perspective and needs. It revolves

around eight areas relevant to their lives and is carried out twice a year by RYC trained

staff.

*Exploration programs-

● Bespoke 5-week program based on Wellness Action Planning, for

which RYC staff are experienced facilitators. Designed to identify difficulties and barriers to

academic attainment and emotional resilience. Sessions offer a safe space to develop

healthy communication skills for pupils to explore, identify, and share their experiences,

concerns and needs whilst also celebrating themselves.


● Unsinkables- YC work through a booklet originated by RYC in collaboration with

Occupational therapists from the University of Southampton. The program uses visually

engaging and poignant nautical themes to address pupils’ issues and concerns.

● Springboard- An intervention developed by RYC, based on Wellness Recovery

Action Plan (WRAP) for which RYC staff are trained facilitators, to build emotional

resilience, and teach healthy communication skills.

● Sibs- RYC staff are trained facilitators of a program for YC who care for a sibling,

though it can be adapted to include everyone. Pupils work though a booklet which has

useful information, as well as providing a platform for experiences to be shared and

celebrated.