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Young carers

Young Carers are children and young people between 8 and 18 years old whose lives are affected because they live with and help to look after a family member who is physically disabled, has a long-term illness, learning disability, mental health or drug or alcohol problem.

The effect on young carers of living alongside family members with the above needs impacts on their academic, emotional, social and / or physical wellbeing at a level over and above the experiences of children of a similar age and stage of development.

It is estimated that there are at least 175,000 young carers in Britain (although this is likely to be an underestimate) and it is difficult to know how many young carers there are because of the ‘hidden’ nature of caring. 

There are over 100 young carers aged between 8 and 18 currently in contact with Calderdale’s Young Carers Service.

If you are a carer under the age of 18 who is providing care, including secondary care to a family member, you should contact the Young Carers service.

What do ‘young carers’ do?

Young carers provide: practical help such as shopping, cooking, preparing meals and cleaning; emotional support such as listening to concerns, keeping an eye on someone; intimate personal care such as helping with washing, dressing, going to the toilet; assistance with medication; physical support such as helping someone to walk or go up and down stairs, signing or ‘seeing’ on behalf of someone. 

Young carers do pretty much the same sort of things as adults who are caring for someone who is elderly, disabled, chronically ill etc.

What does the Calderdale Young Carers Service do for young carers?

Referrals are received from any professionals involved with a young carer and their family as long as the young person is in agreement with the referral being made.  Referrals are also taken from young carers themselves and family members (with the young person’s consent). 

After the referral has been received, an initial visit is arranged with the young carer to provide more information about the service and to find out more about the young carer and their family circumstances.  This may lead on to an initial assessment to identify the support that is needed by family members.  Sometimes this results in other agencies/services becoming involved with the family’s agreement.

The service offers information and advice, for example, about different disabilities, medical conditions, who else may be able to assist the family.  A newsletter is sent to all young carers known to the service once every half-term to let them know what is happening and to keep young carers in touch with workers.  Young carers are encouraged to contribute to each newsletter – writing articles, including top tips, jokes and facts etc. 

Some young people need extra support to deal with specific problems or concerns.  These young carers are offered a limited number of individual sessions with one of the workers.  ‘Special projects’ are also available to young carers who think they will benefit from small focused group work, for example, to boost confidence and self-esteem, promote healthy lifestyles, reduce anxiety about the move to secondary school etc.

Other young carers need to have a break from home; a chance to meet other children living in similar circumstances; and to have opportunities to get involved in activities that they may not be able to do with their families.  Breaks are provided via weekly group activities, short residential activity holidays, day trips etc.

If a young carer or family member needs help to solve a difficulty with another agency, to access support from others or to make themselves heard, workers will act as advocates for them.

The service is currently provided free of charge. 

Contact

• Name:
• Young Carers Service
• Address:
• The Children’s Resource Centre
  2 Beverley Place
  Boothtown Road
  Boothtown
  Halifax
• Telephone:
• 01422 438778.

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