Support for young carers

A young carer is someone aged 18 and under who helps care for a family member or friend who can't manage without their support because of:

• an illness
• a disability
• a mental health problem
• addiction

Young carers may take on adult responsibilities such as:

• staying in the house more than others in order to be there for the person who needs to be cared for
• helping the person who needs to be cared for to get up, get washed or dressed, or helping with using the loo
• doing lots of the household chores like shopping, cleaning and cooking
• looking after younger brothers and sisters
• providing emotional support or a shoulder to cry on

Young carers can often find life tiring, worrying and lonely. Being a carer can affect a young person in many ways including:

• social isolation
• bullying
• difficulties with school attendance and achievement
• difficulties with their own physical and mental health

Young carers should not be doing the same things as adult carers, or things that are too much for someone of that age.

Types of support

There are a range of services that help, advise and support young carers. The support we can arrange includes:

• information and advice
• emotional support and peer support
• preventative services which help you maintain or improve your wellbeing
• help to plan what would happen in an emergency that meant you were unable to look after the person you care for
• extra help for the person you care for
• trips and activities during the school holidays
• supporting you in your education
• access to weekly sessions where you can meet other young carers
• digital technology to support both the cared for person and you in your caring role
• support to help you care and to maintain your health and wellbeing

Young carers assessment

Young carers have the right to an assessment.

A young carers assessment looks at the amount of caring you do and what needs to change to make sure you have the same opportunities as other young people.

The assessment will decide what kind of help you and your family might need.

If you, your school or your parent/carer request an assessment, a trained professional must visit to carry out the assessment.

How to get a young carers assessment

Contact your local young carers organisation:

• Family Action

Other places to find help

Support is always available for a young carer.

If you require support from school then we would advise you to approach a trusted member of staff to guide you in the right direction of support.

Contact the Families Information Service, even if you feel you do not need help right now, you may want to know what kind of things might be available for you.

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 07760 171 639