A Huddersfield high school breakfast club funded by a Yorkshire company has been served up to support young carers and other students.
Leeds-based Aim2Learn is investing around £3,000 a year and following a successful trial period, a regular service is now under way at Colne Valley High School in Huddersfield.
It is available to all students, but will also target groups of students who need it most including a new young carers group.
The rollout came ahead of national Carers Week June 9-15, which aims to make carers visible, valued and supported nationwide.
Pupil Dan said: “The club has helped a lot already because I’ve been able to communicate with other people who have the same struggles as me and I feel heard, so it’s been a really great experience. You can talk about it, feel known and feel like you have a place in the world.”
Lyra added: “It has helped a lot because I know others are going through similar stuff to me. I can talk and relate with them and fell like I’m not alone. It’s really hard because I want to look after my mum when she’s struggling, but also live my life and be a child, so this club has really helped.”
And Cameron said: “The biggest challenge for me is seeing my mum struggle every day – day in, day out she’s not well and it’s the same for everyone who is a carer. You have to watch the person you love suffer. The breakfast club has massively helped, it’s absolutely amazing we have something in school for this because I feel elsewhere there isn’t enough recognition for young carers even though the job we all do is absolutely phenomenal. “
Aim2Learn is a national training provider who focus on working with people – who are often in long-term unemployment – with funded specialist telecoms training for careers in the industry.
With bases in Huddersfield and others as far as Newcastle and London, Aim2learn provides a pathway from training to jobs – with links to most major telecoms employers.
Stuart Littlewood, Managing Director of Aim2Learn, said: “We spoke to Colne Valley, asked them what they needed and helped. It’s only a small thing, but it can have a big impact. The school’s great initiative with young carers is brilliant. These children are sometimes too busy helping make sure their parent is ready for the day rather than feeding themselves. So this means they can come, eat and most importantly share experiences with others in the same position – they know they’re not alone.
“A lot of what we do is about changing lives by providing people who struggle to find employment with real skills and real careers for life. But we hear so many stories of how people find themselves unemployed because of their start in life or barriers they faced early on. The school know who needs that little extra help and how to provide it, and they’re doing an excellent job.”
Heidi Fairbrother, Vice Principal of Colne Valley High School, added: “The trial has been really well received, so it’s brilliant to be able to roll it out on a regular basis. It’s open to any student who needs that extra support, to touch base and make sure they are set for the day
“This more targeted club for young carers at school has been particularly impactful. The breakfast club allows these young people to meet others in the same situation as themselves and share stories while enjoying a treat.
“It’s these kinds of connections that might not have been possible without this project, so we really appreciate the support Aim2Learn is offering through their donation. It means we can provide a support network for these students beyond the club too.”
One of Aim2Learn’s key funders is West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Through its amazing breakfast club initiative, Aim2Learn is going the extra mile to ensure that adult learners and their families are fed and engaged in education, transforming lives and communities. Through our £67 million investment in adult skills, we’re offering a vital leg-up to people who want to better their lives through new training and better-paid work.
“Working together, we’re helping people to get the skills they need to succeed and lead healthier, wealthier lives, boosting wellbeing and helping us build a stronger, brighter economy that works for all.”
