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Support for Young Carers

SUPPORT FOR YOUNG CARERS

The BBC estimates that there are about 700,000 young carers in the UK

You’re a young carer if you’re under 18 and help to look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem.

If you’re a young carer, you probably look after one of your parents or care for a brother or sister.

You may do extra jobs in and around the home, such as cooking, cleaning or helping someone get dressed and move around.

You may also give a lot of physical help to a brother or sister who’s disabled or ill.

Along with doing things to help your brother or sister, you may be giving them and your parents emotional support, too.

It can be hard work being a young carer. Sometimes other children don’t understand your responsibilities and you have less free time than others.

Many young carers cope well with caring, especially if you have support from other family members and it’s important to look after yourself. You have the right to be looked after too and there are lots

of places and people you can go to get help.

There is support for you if you think you are a young carer and would like to talk to someone.  You can speak to a member of staff at school and they will arrange for Mrs Hart or Mrs Shilcock to talk to you. If you would like to talk to someone about being a young carer at the moment you could email one of your teachers and they will pass it on to Mrs Hart.

In Herefordshire you can also follow the link below to access young carers support workers

https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/info/200147/social_care_and_support/416/carers/2

You can find information using theses links too

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/support-and-benefits-for-carers/help-for-young-carers/

https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/looking-after-yourself/young-carers/

The most important thing is to know that you aren’t alone and that you can talk to someone.