Young Carers Service

Young Carers are children affected by having a family member living with them who has a disability or illness. It does not necessarily have to be a parent. It could be a brother, sister, grandparent or relative.

The help you give could be shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundry and managing the family budget. Or you may provide nursing care, such as giving medication and helping someone move around the house.

It may be that you translate language or give your time to sit with someone for company and listen to their problems.

You could feel unable to bring friends home and you may worry about someone when you are away from them.

You may not do any of these things but, if you feel affected by someone's disability or illness, whether it is physical, a mental health problem, HIV, AIDS, drug or alcohol issues, you may be a Young Carer and our Young Carers Service is here for you.

We can:

• Give you a chance to talk to someone privately
• Help you find out about things, eg: information about a type of illness or disability, how to ask for help from social services or where your local youth club is etc.
• speak up for you when you feel you need some support.

We can also help you find some spare time for:

• meeting school friends
• meeting other Young Carers
• being on your own for a while
• joining in activities
• anything else you would like to have the time to do

Contact: Freephone: 0800 015 7700

Please see Publications for the latest Young Carers Newsletter.