Based in Harlow, St Nicholas School, is now entering its third year of delivering dedicated support for young carers across the local community. Many of these children and young people take on significant responsibilities at home, often caring for parents, siblings, or other family members alongside managing school and everyday childhood experiences.
The project’s primary aim is to reduce the emotional and social impact of these responsibilities by creating a safe, joyful, and completely worry-free environment where participants can temporarily step away from their caregiving roles and simply enjoy being children. Through this initiative, Harlow’s most resilient young people are celebrated, protected, and given the opportunity to have fun, relax, and build positive memories with others who understand their experiences.
With support from the Haslers Foundation, 100% of the grant funding will be used to deliver a high-impact festive celebration for young primary-school carers. The event transforms a sports hall into a fully equipped inflatable arena, creating an exciting and engaging space for play and enjoyment.
The day is carefully supported by the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), teaching staff, Year 11 prefects, parent volunteers, the friends of St Nicholas and the pupils, who have all worked incredibly hard to raise funds and ensure a safe and inclusive atmosphere for every child attending.
The celebration also includes a traditional Christmas dinner complete with crackers, music, and entertainment, followed by a special visit from Father Christmas. To end the day, each child receives a high-quality, hand-wrapped gift valued between £25 and £40, depending on the funds raised. For many of these young carers, this may be the only Christmas present they receive, making the experience especially meaningful and memorable.
