Our West Essex Young Carer Coordinator is delivering Sound Bath sessions in schools across West Essex as part of our Young Carers in Schools support programme.
The Young Carers we support are balancing school, friendships and their own wellbeing while also caring for someone who may be ill, disabled, or experiencing mental health challenges. Their lives can often be stressful, and many of the young people we work with struggle with anxiety.
These Sound Bath sessions give them a rare opportunity to pause, relax and focus on their own wellbeing.
The sessions are being run in partnership with Vernon Lacey from Holistic Health UK, who generously offered to provide the sessions free of charge to support the wellbeing of the Young Carers we work with.
Sound Bath is an ancient therapeutic meditation that has been used by cultures around the world for thousands of years.
Vernon explains:
“At its core, a sound bath is a therapeutic experience that involves immersing yourself in the soothing sounds of instruments such as singing bowls, gongs, chimes and drums. These instruments produce harmonious frequencies that resonate throughout the body, helping to induce a state of deep relaxation and inner peace. As participants lie comfortably on mats or cushions, they are surrounded by a cocoon of sound, allowing tension to melt away and the mind to drift into a calm, meditative state.”
The sessions are running at least once a term, and Vernon also shares simple techniques the children can use at home to help them relax and manage stress in their day-to-day lives. We know these skills can make a real difference for Young Carers with busy and demanding routines.
So far, the sessions have been a huge success. Young Carers have told us they felt calm and deeply relaxed afterwards – exactly the aim of this type of therapy.
We’ve also received very positive feedback from parents and school staff, who have noticed a difference in the children after the sessions.
One parent shared:
“Sasha was very calm yesterday. He had a really good day at school… his family worker wants to find out more too as he’s amazed at the difference it’s made.”
Supporting Young Carers in Schools
There are at least two Young Carers in every classroom in Essex.
We currently support Young Carers in secondary schools across Essex, offering tailored support to improve emotional wellbeing and educational engagement.
Our support in schools includes:
One-to-one support sessions
Focusing on emotional wellbeing, school engagement and building positive thinking about the future.
Group support
Helping Young Carers connect with others in similar situations and build a supportive peer network within their school.
Practical support
Advice, counselling, coping strategies, and support around bereavement or family crises.
Raising awareness
School assemblies and staff training to help the whole school community understand the challenges Young Carers face.
Helping Schools Become Young Carer Friendly
We can also support schools to become Young Carer Friendly by:
– Providing guidance on identifying and supporting Young Carers
– Helping develop policies and practices that recognise and support Young Carers
– Supporting schools to achieve the Young Carers in Schools Award, gaining national recognition for improving outcomes for Young Carers
If you would like to talk to us about our Young Carers in Schools support, please email yc@affc.org.uk.
