Young carers

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About this service

A Young Carer is a child or young person (aged from 5 to 25) whose life is affected by caring for at least one family member, over and above just 'helping out'. This could include caring for:

• Parent(s)
• Grandparent(s)
• Sibling(s)
• Close relative(s)

There are many children and young people who help to care for a parent, brother or sister or other relative, who is disabled, has an illness, mental health problem or experiences drug or alcohol related issues.

If you are a young carer your own health and development may be affected because of your caring responsibilities. In addition to the daily tasks you may have to complete (such as housework, cooking and bathing) you may live with the added pressure of school and, often, a lack of understanding from schoolmates. You may not get the chance to go out with your friends or do your homework. The physical and emotional strain is sometimes too much - maybe you skip school and/or suffer depression.

As a young carer you have the same rights as other carers under the NHS and Community Care Act 1990. You may even be considered as a 'child in need' under the Children's Act (1989). This depends on whether we at Wiltshire's Children and Families department considers that your role as a carer prevents you from achieving or maintaining a reasonable standard of social opportunities and achieving full school attendance.

Estimates of the number of young carers in the UK vary between 15,000 and 50,000. The number of young carers in Wiltshire is estimated to be 1800 (Princess Royal Trust research).

In Wiltshire support for Young Carers is provided by Youth Action Wiltshire. Their aim is to provide support to the level that a you may need; from advice at the end of a phone; emotional support; practical assistance; a range of activities that offer respite, and a chance to relax with other young people in similar circumstances.

Young Carers have:

• An employment project for young carers aged 16+
• A peer mentoring project for 7 to 11s
• Advocacy
• Information and signposting to other services

Activities can include:

• Ice skating
• Arts and crafts
• Sports sessions
• Cooking workshops
• Trips out
• Climbing, abseiling and other outdoor activities

All these activities are through fortnightly evening sessions or during weekends and holidays.

Wiltshire Young Carers can be contacted at:

Youth Action Wiltshire
Wyndhams
St Joseph's Place
Devizes
SN10 1DD

Tel: 01380 720671
Fax: 01380 720681
Email: yc@youthactionwiltshire.org
Web: www.youthactionwiltshire.org

Related documents

• Wiltshire Young Carers Strategy 2006-2009

Related links

• Carers UK
• Princess Royal Trust for Carers
• Caring about Carers
• Children’s Society - Young Carers Initiative
• Connexions
• Young Carers Research Group at Loughborough University
• Childline
• Barnardos
• National Youth Agency

Last updated: 5 May 2010