Young Carers
Who are young carers?
The Children and Families Act 2014 definition says a young carer is ‘A person under 18 who provides or intends to provide care for another person’.
This can include caring for a parent, grandparent or a sibling.
The person they care for may live with a physical or health condition, long term illness or something more hidden, such as a mental health problem, an addiction or neurodiversity.
The young carer might help with shopping, cooking, cleaning, managing medicines or money or take on other household responsibilities. They might help to provide personal care or provide emotional support and help looking after other siblings. The young carer may have to adapt their behaviours to meet the needs of the family member they care for. They may be restricted in activities they can take part in due to their caring responsibilities. Young Carers may also give their time just to be with someone they care for when they need company.
Young Carers are a very hidden group and often experience negative impacts on their education, health and social and emotional development as a result of their caring responsibilities at home. They may feel isolated or very different to their peers.
When Young Carers are identified (if they were not already known to us), we can refer to Signpost. Signpost young carers can offer a range of different supportive interventions. We can work together with families and signpost to identify any targeted interventions which can lead to improvements in attendance, attainment and wellbeing - along with support for families. Click the link below to find out more.