BWA staff member receives Young Carer Star award
A member of staff at Brooke Weston Academy in Corby has been recognised for her outstanding support for young carers, receiving the title of Young Carer Star from Northamptonshire Carers.
The recognition forms part of the Young Carers in Schools programme, run jointly by The Children’s Society and Carers Trust, which helps schools across England identify and support pupils who provide care for a family member living with illness, disability or other challenges.
Emma Baxter, Inclusion Higher Level Teaching Assistant and Young Carers Lead at Brooke Weston Academy, said she felt “very proud” to be recognised.
“My role at Brooke Weston Academy as HLTA Inclusion is very rewarding. I get to work with a variety of students, delivering interventions, supporting their academic studies, wellbeing and mental health, as well as of course, the role as Young Carers Lead,” said Emma.
“I felt very proud to receive the award. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know our young carers in school, supporting them, running groups and communicating with the cared‑for families in our community. To receive an award for doing something I love was a real honour.”
A young carer’s responsibilities may include practical tasks like cooking and housework, assisting with personal care such as mobility or medication, or offering emotional support to their loved ones. Young carers often juggle these duties alongside their schoolwork and social lives, making the support they receive at school especially vital.
Emma leads provision for 18 identified young carers at Brooke Weston Academy, arranging termly wellbeing meetings, coordinating 1:1 sessions with a Young Carers Association specialist, and organising activities throughout the year to allow pupils time to connect and relax.
“Our young carers range from Year 7 up to Sixth Form,” she explained. “Alongside their studies and social lives, they go home to help and support their families in the most admirable ways. It’s crucial to recognise such a unique and caring group of young people, to make them feel seen and valued in our school community.”
Emma also acts as a Mental Health First Aider and supports new students as they join the school, helping them settle quickly into the Brooke Weston Academy community.
Jade Harrison, Community Connector with the Young Carers team at Northamptonshire Carers, said the monthly Young Carer Star award highlights professionals making a difference:
“Emma’s contribution plays a crucial role in helping us continue our work with young carers and young people who provide care and support to family members facing illness, disability, or other challenges. We wanted to give her the recognition she deserves and hope this can be echoed throughout the Trust.”
Principal of Brooke Weston Academy, Clare Haworth, said Emma’s achievement reflects the school’s ethos and the spirit that underpins everything they do.
“We are immensely proud of Emma and the impact she has on our school community. Her work captures the very essence of our ‘Be the Difference’ ethos – showing how compassion and strong relationships can transform lives. That commitment to going above and beyond is something we see across our team at Brooke Weston Academy every day,” she said.
Brooke Weston Academy is part of Brooke Weston Trust, a family of 12 schools across Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire. The Trust’s shared value of Ambition for All drives every school to cultivate high expectations, nurture talent and help each child reach their full potential, both academically and personally.
Emma’s next goal is to help Brooke Weston Academy achieve the Young Carers in Schools Award, a nationally recognised programme aimed at improving outcomes for young carers in educational settings across England.
“Raising the profile of a really special group of young people is the biggest achievement. Anyone thinking of taking on this role will find it very rewarding,” said Emma.
Her work shines a light on how care and connection can transform the lives of young people with caring responsibilities and strengthen the culture that defines Brooke Weston Academy.