'Young carers/adults are Caregivers. The hidden crisis is ageless.'
Let's ensure Children/Young adults know their rights and where to get support.
Hello Everyone! Thank you for your readership, especially during Carers Week (UK) June 10 - 16.
If you’re here for the first time, ‘Welcome!’ You can learn more about Carer Mentor, here. ‘Why did I start Carer Mentor?’
Caregivers in the UK are people who care, unpaid, for a family member or friend with an illness or disability, mental health condition or addiction.
Click here to learn more about Carers Week.
Carer Mentor is not directly associated with Carers UK. The organisation has supported me in their advice and through the anonymous carers online forum Carers Connect.
On this third day of Carers Week, Carers UK is highlighting Caregivers who are underage.
Caring is hard on anyone, but it can be especially hard for carers who are underage. Ill health in the family can come on suddenly, and some young people are forced into their roles by circumstance. If you or someone you know is a younger carer, there is help and support out there for you.
Carers Trust supports Young Carers who are under 18 (legal definition) and Young Adult Carers, someone who is 14–25.
One of the main obstacles for younger carers is self-identification. Without identifying themselves as a carer, or knowing what a carer is, it can be very difficult to access support. Many carers see their relationship with the person they care for as simply a child, parent, friend, or neighbour, and don't recognise the word 'carer' as a term they would use. This is why identification by health professionals is so important.
If you or someone you know is a younger carer, there's support out there for you. The Carers Trust runs a network of local carer organisations in England, Scotland and Wales, offering information, advice, practical support and/or care in the home to unpaid carers of all ages. Many of these organisations have specific services dedicated to younger carers.
This guide by Carers Trust shares The Rights of Young Carers & Young Adult Carers.
Direct quotes from the guide to promote awareness of their rights:
These are your rights. As a young carer or a young adult carer you have a right to be supported and to get the help you need.
You have these rights whether you look after someone every day or from time to time, or if you do a lot of or a little caring.
You shouldn’t be doing a caring role that:
• Makes you feel worried, sad or lonely.
• Makes your health worse.
• Means that you miss out on time with friends.
• Means you do worse at school, college or university.
• Stops you getting a job or keeping a job.
• Stops you wanting to achieve your goals for the future.
‘Your needs are important. That is why there are laws that tell your council that they have to find out what support you need by asking you some questions. This is called an assessment.’
‘Assessment’ means a discussion with you to find out information about:
• You.
• The caring you do.
The information is needed so that the person doing the assessment can make decisions with you about:
• Whether your situation is okay.
• If more support would help you and the person you care for.
An assessment for a young carer or a young adult carer isn’t like an exam or about how good you are at supporting the person you care for. The focus is on whether the council is doing enough to support you so that you have the same chances as other people your age.
The assessment is free.
There are three types of assessments for young carers and young adult carers, depending on how old you are. You will find information about them in this booklet:
1. Young carer’s assessment for carers under 18.
2. Transition assessment for young adult carers before they are 18.
3. Carer’s assessment for all carers aged 18 or over.
UK Resources
Click here for General Advice and Resources for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers
Young Scot is Scotland's national youth information service. Visit the website for stories from other young people on their experience of being a carer and information on caring for someone.
Meic is the helpline service in Wales for children and young people up to the age of 25. Freephone: 0808 80 23456 or visit the website for other ways to get in touch.
Carers Trust: Young Carers & the need for more Financial Support.
Wellbeing and mental health - [from the website]
Carers Trust has a wealth of resources in relation to mental health for young carers and young adult carers.
Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. They're there 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, wherever you live in the UK. You can call Samaritans on Freephone: 116 123, 24 hours a day, seven days a week or visit the website for more ways to get in touch. Contact Samaritans Cymru for a Welsh language service.
Mind provides information and support for people with mental health problems in England. Mind Cymru is Mind in Wales providing information and support in English and Welsh.
Young Minds offers information about looking after yourself, coping with mental health issues, feelings, symptoms and conditions, wherever you live in the UK. Services include a free 24-hour crisis messenger if you are experiencing a mental health crisis and a Parents Helpline for parents across the UK. Find out more on the Young Minds' website.
Carers UK Helpline of trained experts: For information and signposting, the telephone Helpline is available on 0808 808 7777 from Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm (including Bank Holidays).
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