People Like Us
Written by Judith Johnson / Produced by Theatre of Debate
Description
‘People Like Us’ tells the story of Tyler and Gemma. Both are 16, but apart from detention seem to have little in common. Until Tyler finds out Gemma is a young carer, just like him…
TYLER: “People don’t believe me when I tell them who I look after. I’m 16. I’m a boy. I look a bit different. But, you know, it takes all sorts. And there’s definitely all sorts in my family.”
Judith Johnson’s powerful, fast-moving, humorous and timely contemporary drama, was specially commissioned by Theatre of Debate and developed in collaboration with Action for Carers, Surrey.
The live play and debate pilot toured fifteen Secondary schools in Surrey reaching over 3,000 students and teachers. As a result of the performances and debates in schools many students were able to self-identify themselves as young carers for the first time and the participating schools used the opportunity to promote or launch their own Young Carers’ policy for their school. Before the pilot tour of the live production, SYC estimated that there were at least two young carers in every class in Surrey Secondary schools. After the pilot tour, SYC revised their estimate to an average of up to five young carers in every class.
Every school that has seen the project to date has reported that as a direct result of watching People Like Us, several young people have self-identified themselves as young carers, added to which teachers found it a useful tool to create a school policy for young carers or to review an existing one.
Details
Focus: to raise awareness about the lives of young carers at the same time as supporting the achievement of attainment targets for key stage 3 and 4 across Citizenship, English, Drama and PHSE whilst promoting spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and mental well-being.
Who is People Like Us suitable for: It is appropriate for both 14 – 16 and 16+ age groups. Teachers can use the project across subjects and curricula, specifically in, PSHE, Citizenship, English, Drama and SMSC – spiritual, social, moral, social and cultural development.
Length: 59 minutes
Full Film: Available through Theatre of Debate, with subtitles by Stagetext
Resources: Available for teachers and students, science communicators and health workers
The Children’s Society latest statistics show that there are 800,000 young carers in the UK, 27% of which have difficulties at school due to their caring responsibilities, and 1/3 reported having a mental health problem. 39% said nobody in their school was even aware of their caring responsibilities. With the effects of lockdown and isolation, it has never been more important to engage young people in a conversation about mental health and well-being.
Ofsted inspectors will consider how a school is identifying and supporting students who are young carers. Therefore, schools need to take a proactive approach to identify carers as early as possible – our resources have been created in collaboration with Surrey Young Carers (SYC) support you and your school in doing so.
