YOUNG CARERS

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A young carer is a child or young person aged 18 or under who provides care for a family member with a disability. This can be anyone in the family such as grandparents, parents and siblings. Disability is defined by  someone with a physical disability, mental health illness, substance misuse, learning difficulty, terminal or long-term illness. This can include practical or emotional care that would normally be expected of an adult and as a result, it has a significant impact on the young carer's childhood and adolescence. Click here for support during covid-19. Click here for the young carers newsletter.

ROLES OF A YOUNG CARER

MAY PREFORM

• Cleaning their own bedroom, or clean other rooms

• Washing the dishes or put dishes in a dishwasher

• Taking responsibility of shopping for food and other essentials

• Help with lifting or carrying heavy things

• Help with financial matters such as dealing with bills, banking money, collecting benefits

• Working part time to bring money in

• Interpret, sign, or use another interpretation system for the person they care for

• Helping the person they care for dress and undress

• Helping the person they care for have a wash, bath, or shower

• Keeping the person they care fo company, e.g. sitting with them and talking with them

• Keeping an eye on the person they care for to make sure they are alright

• Taking the person they care for outside, e.g for a walk, or to see friends or relatives

• Looking after brothers and sisters whilst an adult is nearby or on their own

WHAT RIGHT A YOUNG

CARER HAS

• A young carer, because they are under 18, have many entitlements according to the Unite Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). A young carer has the right to:-

• A childhood

• Have an education

• Be healthy

• Be heard, listened to, and believed

• Be protected from physical and psychological harm

• Be consulted and fully involved in discussions which affect their lives

• Have privacy and respect

A YOUNG CARER PARTICULARLY 

HAS THE RIGHT TO

• Request an assessment to see what help and support they and their family need (it is their statutory right).

• Choose the amount of care they receive.

• Be protected from excessive or inappropriate caring that impacts on their mental health. and wellbeing.

• Information and advice.