Young Carers

Children and Young People who have to help look after other family members are often called “Young Carers”. You may be someone who looks after a parent with an illness or disability, or a younger sibling.

We know that caring for someone at home can have a big impact on your own education, health and social life. Caring may affect your school work and ability to concentrate. Maybe you find it difficult to find time to study or get to school on time because of the things you need to do as a carer. Or perhaps you feel tired, stressed, or feel bad about yourself.

Are you a young carer?

Young carers are young people and children, who take on physical, practical or emotional responsibilities at home because someone in their family is:

Disabled
Has been ill for a long time
Experiences mental health problems
Has a learning disability
Has a substance misuse problem

All families are different and your caring might involve providing emotional support and/or practical help such as:

Preparing meals
Doing the cleaning, shopping or laundry
Administering medication
Helping someone with dressing or going to the toilet
Dealing with bills and finances
Translating or interpreting
Looking after siblings
Collecting prescriptions
Accompanying them to the GP or hospital
Being there when they are sad or depressed

Young carers might experience the following:

Great feelings of responsibility
Physical tiredness, due to lifting or helping their relative doing lots of housework
Worries about their parent's health and future wellbeing
Having to communicate with services or the authorities on behalf of their parent
Not having time for schoolwork or relaxation

How we can help:

Our support workers can help by providing you with someone to chat to in confidence, and who can give you information and advice as you need it. We organise trips and activities where you can meet other young carers and have a break away from your caring role. We can ensure you are supported in school to help you with your education.

Develop a plan of support to meet the needs of individual young carers
Offer young carers someone to talk to through one to one support
Increase young carers awareness and confidence to manage their situation
Help young carers to get more support at school or college
Help young carers get a regular break and time for friends and fun
Support young carers at times of significant life changes and the transition to adulthood