Who are Young Carers?
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WHAT IT MEANS
Caring is not always about practical tasks
These are children and young people whose lives are affected by caring for a family member who has a long-term illness or disability, mental health problem, or issues with drugs or alcohol. They may care for a parent, brother or sister, or perhaps a grandparent living in the family home.
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Giving emotional support or worrying
Offering comfort, listening, or simply being present for a family member in distress. Feeling anxious about the well-being of their loved ones, often carrying an emotional burden that impacts their own mental health.
Practical tasks such as cooking, housework and shopping
Taking on household chores such as cooking meals, cleaning, and doing laundry to keep the home running smoothly.
Handling grocery shopping or running errands, sometimes juggling these responsibilities with school or other activities
Administering medication
Ensuring loved ones take the right medication at the right time, often keeping track of schedules and doses. Monitoring side effects or changes in health that might need medical attention.
Types of Caring
Caring is not always about practical tasks. Children and young people can find themselves offering significant emotional support which can be an impact on their daily life as well as their development. The tasks undertaken by children and young people vary according to the nature of the illness or disability, as well as the level and frequency of need for care and the structure of the family unit.
Physical care such as lifting
Assisting with physical tasks, such as helping a family member move around the house, getting into bed, or using mobility aids. Providing support that requires strength and endurance, often without formal training.
Managing the family budget, collecting benefits and prescriptions
Learning to plan and manage finances, ensuring bills are paid and essentials are purchased. Collecting benefits or prescriptions, often requiring young carers to interact with systems meant for adults.
Looking after or “parenting” younger siblings
Stepping into a parental role for younger brothers and sisters, ensuring they are fed, dressed, and cared for. Helping with homework, providing emotional support, or acting as a role model in the absence of an adult.
Impact of Caring
It is important to note that young carers do not necessarily dwell on the negative impacts of caring. However, it is important that recognition of the positive impacts of care does not inadvertently encourage the continuation of inappropriate care taking place or lead to the caring becoming a cause for celebration and not action. Inappropriate caring can impact upon the young carer’s own well-being and put them in need of support from health and social care services.
- They may welcome the sense of pride they feel about their caring role and achievements
- Young carers can be highly self-motivated multi-taskers, coping with and achieving at school whilst also undertaking a caring role
- They may also benefit from a close family environment that is supportive and caring of each other
- A young carer’s ability to cope and achieve must not be used to mask their need for support
Contact us
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Romsey Young Carers, Unit 36, Romsey Industrial Estate, Greatbridge Road, Romsey, SO51 0HR