It is estimated that there are 175,000 children and young people under the age of 18 who provide some level of unpaid care to another family member. More recent research however indicates that it is likely to be four times this number due to a high volume of “hidden carers” who do not access support.
They can sometimes be as young as 5 years old...
A young carer is someone who is likely to be regularly doing some or all of the following: cleaning, shopping, cooking, checking medication, helping with personal care, interpreting and paying bills.
Without support, young carers’ educational achievement and development can be significantly affected, with little time to do homework, coursework, attend open days or socialise with friends.
This is why Family Action delivers support to young carers across England. Find out more about Young Carers, and where Family Action's Young Carers projects are located.
What We DoAt first contact, a worker from the Young Carers’ Service will take some details about the family’s situation and where possible will visit the family. This enables them to find out more about what is needed, start a young carers’ assessment and then agree a plan about the work we will do together.
Direct work with young people will include:
- Help to access other services in the community e.g. Connexions
- Advocacy on behalf of the young carer and their family e.g. with housing, social care services
- Information e.g. about a parent’s illness or disability
- Support with any issues at school
- Providing a listening ear and arranging counselling if needed
- Group work, regular clubs or individual work depending on what each child/young person needs e.g. chill out groups, theatre groups
- Activities with other young carers or children and young people in the community to give them a break and have fun, e.g. canoeing, pond-dipping, cinema visits
- Chances to have new experiences, learn new skills and be involved in how the service is run, e.g. trips during Easter and summer holidays
As well as these specific services for young carers we offer activities with parents and children together, e.g. after-school cooking clubs with both parents and children.
Some projects work within schools with children, providing counselling sessions or lunchtime discussion groups.
In addition there are often special holiday activities and outings for all the family.
Family Action’s projects often work with children in their homes, providing individual support and information to help children to understand their parents’ illness or disability and to express and understand their own feelings about their situation.
Download our Young Carers Services leaflet.