Ross-shire young carers benefit from e-learning trailblazer

YOUNG carers in Ross-shire are at the heart of a a new e-learning project with free online modules launched to raise awareness of their role.

Dingwall-based Connecting Young Carers have worked on two free e-learning modules for Highland teachers, professionals and secondary school aged pupils.

The modules are the result of a collaboration with the Care and Learning Alliance (CALA) who designed and produced the modules working with CYC and groups of young carers, who added their own personal experience and narration to provide two interactive courses exploring the various aspects of the lives of young carers, including legislation, the impact of caring on a young person's life and how to support young carers to thrive in their lives.

Connecting Carers centre manager, Roisin Connolly, said she hopes that the e-learning modules will increase knowledge and understanding of young carers across the Highlands and that young people in caring roles will be more easily recognised and supported in their schools and communities.

"Highland is very unique in its remote geography and these modules will be an effective and consistent way to highlight young carers and the support available to them,” she added.

Jaci Douglas, chief executive of CALA, said: "It was a really great experience working so closely with CYC on this innovative and important e-module. Being able to work on a project which helps raise the profile of young carers amongst professionals as well as young people themselves was a huge privilege and we hope to continue our 3rd sector collaboration into the future for benefit of all in Highland."

The short module is designed to tell young people about the impact of caring, to let them know that they are not alone and to encourage friends to be more supportive of a peer who has caring responsibilities, and can be completed as part of the school curriculum or at their own leisure and can be accessed via laptop, tablet or smart phone.

Young people who complete the module will receive a completion certificate.

The free modules can be accessed on careandlearning.typeform.com/to/PPGJAV for the young persons module and calaelearning.co.uk/product/young-carers-seen-heard-and-supported/

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