Caring award for Kinsale Infant School
A prestigious caring award has been made to Kinsale Infant School which goes the extra mile for its pupils who are also carers.
The school, a member of the Wensum Trust, has joined the Carer Friendly Tick Award organisation which recognises the ‘outstanding commitment to supporting young carers and adult carers within the school community.’
“It is so refreshing to hear that the young carers are being involved in the entire process. The panel were really impressed by Marie Clarke and the amount of effort that she has put in,” said the awarding panel.
Mrs Clarke, Young Carer Lead and office manager at the school which is a member of the Wensum Trust, said the hard work had been worthwhile.
“We applied because we wanted to raise awareness and recognise the important role young carers play in our community. Gaining this award has given our group of young carers a real sense of pride and belonging, it is really important to us at school that they always feel supported and know how special they are,” she said.
“We are thrilled that our work with the amazing young carers in our school has been recognised. This award is all about them, and making sure they have the support and resources they need to carry on caring for loved ones whilst prioritising their own wellbeing. I think our pledge that was written with our young carers explains perfectly:
“Being positive about being a Young Carer means looking for the magic in the everyday but knowing it's ok not to not always feel sparkly. Supporting the people we love and taking the time we need to take care of ourselves and each other.”
The Carer Friendly Tick Award was introduced in 2019 by the Norfolk Young Carers Forum and has expanded via the Caring Together Charity to include a variety of organisations from education to healthcare services.
Headteacher Stacey Coleman said: “We are incredibly proud to recognise and support our young carers — their strength, kindness, and resilience inspire us every day. We’re also delighted to see this commitment recognised through the Young Carers Award."
By receiving the award, Kinsale Infant School pledges to continue supporting students and ensure young carers have the tools and understanding they need to balance both their roles as carers and as students.
Applications are rigorously assessed by a panel of carers and the award remains valid for two years and the school can renew afterwards.
The school is also able to receive expert guidance from Caring Together as it provides tailored resources and training to help everyone involved.