Young Carers are children or young people, aged up to 18, who may be supporting and caring for a relative friend or other individual.

Many young carers are hidden and might only be identified because they're continually missing school or may have other problems caused by their care responsibilities at home.

Many young carers come from lone parent families, where there are no other adults to share the caring.

You may be classed as a young carer if you have the responsibility of caring for your mum, dad, brother, sister, aunt or uncle, gran or granddad, cousin, etc.

You may need to care for a person who is disabled, ill, experiencing mental health issues, affected by substance/alcohol abuse or affected by HIV/aids.

• Research estimates there are 51,000 young carers across the UK.
• 71% are bullied in school
• 12% are caring for more than one person
• 86% are of compulsory school age; the average age of a young carer is 12
• 1 in 4 do not tell anyone that they are a carer
• 1 in 5 families receive no support other than from a young carers project
• 54% live in lone parent families

Across the UK, there are many young carers projects which can help you by:

• Providing someone to talk to/someone to listen
• Providing and accessing information
• Providing and accessing practical help Organising individual and group activities
• Raising awareness
• Advocacy
• Involving young carers in planning and consultation
• Referring and taking referrals from agencies like Connexions
• Young carers assessments (providing services required)
• Family support
• Befriending
• Tuition and educational support
• Helping with homework
• Loan of laptop computer
• Attendance/late issues resolved
• Awareness raising with schools
• Providing a resource directory
• Providing benefits information
• Providing a confidential service
• Careline service
• Young carers newsletter
• Social trips and days out

If you want help, support or advice, you can contact:
West Cumbria Carers Young Carers Project 133, Queen Street, Whitehaven, CA28 7Q
Telephone:01946 592223

Email: wccarers@btconnect.com

Or you can speak confidentially to one of Connexions personal advisers by phoning our free phone number: 0800 435 709