This section includes information specifically for young carers and their parents, but please also see other pages which also have relevant information.
You can also contact us on 0345 241 0954 or [email protected] to learn more about how we and others can help.
The government has now published guidance for young carers and young adult carers which you can see by clicking here. This is in addition to their “Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family” which is useful to read.
Emergency planning
What If something happens to a young carer, which means they are unable to look after their loved one? If the person they look after lives in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough you can register a ‘What If? Plan’ with us. The What If? service operates 24 hours a day throughout the year. It can provide urgent support to the person you cared for, in the event of their normal carers being unable to care.
Please click here to find out more about emergency planning.
Support available in Norfolk
We have produced a guide to the support available for young carers in Norfolk.
Home schooling
The government have a list of online educational resources to help parents with teaching their children at home.
These websites have been identified by leading experts in education and offer a wide range of support and resources for pupils of all ages.
You can click below to go to the lists for:
They are currently being offered for free.
Individual resources cannot replace a school’s properly planned curriculum, and the resources in this list are not intended to do so.
They may be useful for parents in considering how they could support their children’s education, but they should not be used in place of existing resources which schools may be using as part of their continued provision for pupils’ education at this time.
To view all the resources please go to www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-online-education-resources-for-home-education
Resources for children under 5
For parents with children under 5 years old, who have not yet started school, the Department for Education (DfE)’s Hungry Little Minds campaign features tips and practical activities that you can do at home with children to support their early learning.
Activities for babies, toddlers and children
The BBC’s Tiny Happy People campaign is there to help you develop your child’s communication skills. You can explore simple activities and play ideas and find out about their amazing early development.
Family Zone
This is available at literacytrust.org.uk/family-zone/ with sections for ages birth to four years old, five to eight years old and nine to 12 years old. Over the next days, weeks and months the Literacy Trust will be updating this as often as we can with new and useful content for parents.
Split up by age group below, you will find ideas and guidance for simple activities that will engage your children at home, while also benefiting their reading, writing and language development.
You’ll be able to access free reading and writing resources, audiobooks, videos, competitions and reading challenges. Every resource is available for free, although to access some you may need to create a free account.
Help with children understanding coronavirus (COVID-19)
A number of resources are available to help children to understand more about the coronavirus.
Children’s Commissioner
One has been produced by the Children’s Commissioner to which aims to answer children’s questions about coronavirus, tell children how to stay safe and protect other people and how to help them make the best of their time at home. To download this, go to www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/publication/childrens-guide-to-coronavirus/
From the illustrator of The Gruffalo
The publishers at Nosy Crow have made a book with Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler.
This is available to download for FREE at nosycrow.com/blog/released-today-free-information-book-explaining-coronavirus-children-illustrated-gruffalo-illustrator-axel-scheffler/
The book has had expert input from Professor Graham Medley of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and two head teachers and a child psychologist.
The book answers key questions in simple language appropriate for 5 to 9 year olds:
- What is the coronavirus?
- How do you catch the coronavirus?
- What happens if you catch the coronavirus?
- Why are people worried about catching the coronavirus?
- Is there a cure for the coronavirus?
- Why are some places we normally go to closed?
- What can I do to help?
- What’s going to happen next?
Caring for children with learning disabilities or autism
The social care institute for excellence has produced a guide to help family members and carers supporting adults and children with learning disabilities or an autistic adult or child through the COVID-19 crisis. Its aim is to ensure that carers are able to carry on giving good, safe support to their family members during the pandemic. You can see it at www.scie.org.uk/care-providers/coronavirus-covid-19/learning-disabilities-autism/carers-family
Supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing
Advice is available for those looking after the mental health and wellbeing of children or young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This includes advice on looking after your own mental health and wellbeing. Click here to read more
An easy read guide to looking after your feelings and your body is available – click here.
You can also find more information on our page on getting the advice and support you need.
Online safety
Thinkuknow have created pages to support parents during Covid-19 and the closure of schools. Each fortnight, they are releasing new home activity packs with simple 15 minute activities you can do with your child to support their online safety at home. These are available as follows:
- Click here for age 4-5
- Click here for age 5-7
- Click here for age 8-10
- Click here for age 11-13
- Click here for age 14+
ChatHealth
ChatHealth is a secure and confidential text messaging service for young people. It allows patients to easily and anonymously get in touch with a healthcare professional for advice and support.
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough – Text 07840 635 443
- Norfolk – Text 07480 635060
Safeguarding
In an emergency, always call 999
Cambridgeshire
If you are not a professional involved with the child or family, you do not have to give your name and your conversation will be treated confidentially. Call 0345 045 5203 (8-6pm Monday to Friday) 01733 234 724 (Out of hours) or email [email protected]
Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership
- Text: 07480 635060
- Call: 0344 800 8029
National organisations
- NSPCC – 0808 800 5000 or [email protected]
- Childline – 0800 1111 or www.childline.org.uk