Are you a young carer?

Being a young carer can have a significant impact on your emotional and mental wellbeing

Anyone who provides support to a family member, relative, partner or friend, who is ill, frail, disabled, has mental ill-health or substance misuse difficulties is a Carer. Being a carer can mean providing emotional support, medical care, personal care, physical care and/or or doing jobs around the home.

If this sounds like you, we want to make sure that you have all the information and advice you need to keep you and the person you are supporting as well as possible.

Heather Kapeluch, Head of operations for our CAMHS and specialist services said: “Caring or supporting another person is not an easy role and it is normal to feel a range of emotions. If you are a young carer it can be really overwhelming trying to juggle school, homework and caring responsibilities and many young carers don’t see themselves as carers and miss out on getting the help and support they need. Many young carers are proud of the support they provide but also can feel stressed and isolated The one thing we don’t want you to feel is alone, there is help and support available.”

Local Support:

• Young carers | Swindon Borough Council
• Young carers - Wiltshire Council
• Young carers (bristol.gov.uk)
• Young carers | Bath and North East Somerset Council (bathnes.gov.uk)

National Support:

• Help for young carers - Social care and support guide - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

• Carer’s Trust offers information and advice for young carers, and runs local support services.
• Sidekick by Action for Children is a text message and email support service for young carers.
• Citizens Advice has information on money, benefits and your rights.
• The National Careers Service has a helpline, web chat and email service about education and careers for teenagers. Support is also available up to the age of 25 for those who have learning difficulties or disabilities.