College wins accolade for supporting young carers
ASOUTH Wales college has been awarded for its work with young carers to coincide with Young Carers’ Day today.
Coleg y Cymoedd, which has campuses in Ystrad Mynach, Aberdare, Rhondda and Nantgarw, has been awarded the bronze and silver Young Carers College award in recognition of the work it does to support its learners who have caring responsibilities.
It is estimated that young carers are five times more likely to drop out of education than other leaners.
To help young carers with their education, Coleg y Cymoedd offers learners flexible learning hours, free meals and extra support.
They are also given access to counselling and taken on an annual residential trip to give them a break from responsibilities at home.
Karen Phillips, principal at Coleg y Cymoedd, said: “Young carers take on an enormous amount of responsibility at home, so we want to do all we can to help make their college experience as smooth as possible.”
Student and young carer Alisha Morgan is one of those who has been helped.
She set up her own support group outside college to help other young people and carers struggling with mental health.
The 20-year-old Coleg y Cymoedd learner, from Penrhys, worked with
Ferndale Community School to start a weekly support group for young people to talk about issues affecting them.
Alisha, who is the primary carer for her mother, originally decided to set up the youth club after suffering with poor mental health herself.
She also wanted to provide support for young people like herself who have care responsibilities,
Alisha became a young carer aged 17 after her mother became ill with a number of conditions that left her struggling to walk and take care of herself.
Struggling to balance her care duties with her education, Alisha ended up leaving college altogether.
However, determined to forge a career, she returned to college a year later to study health and social care, with ambitions to work in paediatric mental health.
Alisha, who is now studying her Level 2 diploma in health and social care at Coleg y Cymoedd, admits that she finds it difficult to focus on her education when she may be called at any time to help her mother.
She completed a Mental Health First Aid course before setting up the group.
“Having struggled with mental health issues myself, I really wanted to help other young people in the same situation,” she said.
“I attend the sessions outside of my college studies and we speak about a range of issues from depression and anxiety to bereavement and suicide prevention.
“Speaking to other people who understand what you are going through really does help.”
The youth club currently supports seven individuals between the ages of 11 and 25.
Designed by Rhondda Cynon Taf Young Carers’ Service, the bronze award was presented by Councillor Christina Leyshon, cabinet member for adult and children’s services, at the college’s Aberdare campus.