AN ABERYSTWYTH secondary school has become the first in the county to receive an Investors in Carers award.

Ysgol Penglais has been awarded the Investors in Carers bronze award, in recognition of their commitment to and support for carers and their families.

The Investors in Carers Bronze Level award is a regional partnership quality standards scheme, which is delivered through Hywel Dda Health Board, with Ceredigion County Council and third-sector partners in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

Cllr Catrin Miles, Cabinet member with responsibility for learning services, Flying Start and Team Around the Family, and Ceredigion’s Young People’s Champion, said: “It was a real honour and huge pleasure to visit Ysgol Penglais school and present their assistant head, Karina Shaw, with the Investors in Carers bronze award.

"Penglais is the first school to receive the award - a great accolade for Karina and the team responsible for achieving this success.

"By identifying and signposting young carers, as well as reminding everyone of the importance of carer awareness, each young carer receives the support and information they need.

"Young carers can realise that they are not alone in the challenges they might face in maintaining their academic journey whilst caring and supporting for a family member at home.”

Investors in Carers was developed in Ceredigion in 2006 and since 2013 it has been an integral part of the overall West Wales Strategy for Carers.

It also helps meet the needs of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and the new Welsh Government national priorities for adult and young carers.

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