Young Carers

Who are Young Carers

They are children and young people who look after, or help look after, someone at home who has a long term illness or disability.   This could be a parent, brother, sister or grandparent.  Young carers help out in many different ways;

• Doing housework
• doing shopping
• keeping someone company
• helping someone get dressed or washed
• listening to someone or cheering them up.

How can the Young Carers Project help?

If you are a young carer, you need to have time off from caring, time to do the things that other young people may take for granted.  Things like;

• Chilling out
• having your own space
• having fun
• talking to someone
• meeting other young people who care for someone 

What Services does the project provide?

At the project we provide various group work activities and workshops to support you, such as male, female or sibling groups, and social and sporting activities.

Individual Work

Some young carers might need some extra 'time out' for lots of different reasons.  If you don't feel ready to join our group, but still need a break from caring, then this project provides things like;

• Meeting in school for a chat
• occasional outings
• confidence building
• a listening ear from someone who won't judge you or your situation. 

Information and Advice

At the project we have lots of different information about illness, disability, children's rights and other services that may be able to help you.  If you would like information please let us know and we will make sure you get it.

Advocacy

Sometimes young carers need someone who can speak to other people on their behalf, for example teachers or social workers.  Staff at the project can help with this, but contact will only be made with your permission.

At our Young Carers project we will;

• support you
• give you the chance to be yourself
• give you some space
• listen to anything you want to talk about
• give advice or find out information if you need it
• give help in practical ways so that you can spend more time with your friends.