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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.

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