Young Carers
Are you a young person with caring responsibilities within your family?
Joe is 14 and has a sister, Megan, who has autism. Joe helps to support his family in lots of ways – he keeps an eye on Megan while his mother cooks the family meals and does some ironing. Sometimes Joe’s mother cries and then he likes to stay at home and help her instead of going to youth club with his friends. He would like his family to go out more together but realises this is difficult with his sister’s autism.
Chloe, 12, loves her dad a lot but she is embarrassed when he acts a bit differently and her friends laugh at him. Chloe’s mum suffers from depression as a result of the pressures of living with someone with a mental health issue.
Chloe has to step in and support both her parents and often takes on household tasks like shopping and cleaning and offers emotional support to both parents.
Abigail, 11, lives with her mum and her mum’s boyfriend. Her mum is an alcoholic and both take drugs. Sometimes Abigail has to miss school to look after them. She goes to secondary school soon and is worried about falling behind in her lessons.
Does this sound like you or anyone you know?
If it does, there is support out there with the Young Carers Project.
Young people like those in the examples above can receive support in a variety of ways:
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One to one support
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Time out on your own with someone to talk to
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Group activities
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Signposting to other services Training e.g. first aid
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Advocacy if needed (this is when someone independent speaks up for you)
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Respite (someone to care for the person you care for so you can have some time to yourself)
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Residential breaks for you
If you want to find out more about the Young Carers Project, please contact Vicky Campbell on 01495 769996 or 07843 357857.