Young Carers
A young carer is someone aged 25 and under who cares for a friend or family member who, due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, cannot cope without their support. Older young carers are also known as young adult carers and they may have different support needs to younger carers.
Your rights
Young carers have the right to a ‘carer’s assessment’, which is the duty of the local authority. Young Carers Needs Assessments must be available to any young carer who requests one, or if it appears they may be in need of support .
This assessment will look at the effect of caring on your wellbeing – health, education or friendships – and whether you should continue carrying out that level of care.
Transition to Adulthood
This factsheet describes how the Care Act supports people moving from children’s to adult care and support services. Factsheet 11: The Care Act – transition for children to adult care and support (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Planning for transition
The transition to adulthood is a time when young people and their families are thinking about their aspirations for the future. If people are likely to have care and support needs when they are 18, they need information and advice so that they can make the necessary plans.
The Act says that if a young carer is likely to have needs when they, or the child they care for, turns 18, the local authority must assess them if it considers there is “significant benefit” to the individual in doing so. This is regardless of whether the individual currently receives any services
If you are a young carer of someone living in Oxfordshire and are approaching your 18th birthday, contact us, Carers Oxfordshire for an assessment.
Get Involved
If you’d like to get involved and help make the case for the vital need to support young carers you could join Young Carers Alliance – Carers Trust
Finding Support
Tellmi app
Tellmi is a safe, anonymous app where you can talk about absolutely anything. From anxiety to autism, dating to depression, or self-harm to self-esteem, sharing your experiences with a community helps you to feel better. Tellmi’s moderators check everything to keep you safe and their in-house counsellors are always on hand if you need extra support. Find out how to download the app on Tellmi’s website or view Tellmi’s presentation for Oxfordshire.
Carers Trust
As a young carer, you can go to Carers Trust for support. Carers Trust helps young carers cope, your rights, information and support, young carer stories, education advice and much more. Find out more about Carers Trust.
Activities for Young Carers
Youthlab
Youthlab Theatre Club is open to young carers aged 13 to 18 years.
The Theatre Club meet monthly and has dinner together before watching a show at The North Wall in Summertown. There is no pressure to attend every month, and it is completely free. If transport is a problem, they may be able to help.
To apply, visit the youthlab website.
If you have any questions email waltona@thenorthwall.com
Crossroads care
Breaks for Young carers and their families
Through our Let’s Go project we arrange outings and breaks for young carers, children with additional needs, and their families. These can be as a group of children or, if they prefer, in individual families. We are also able to provide a care worker for support as needed to make sure whole families are catered for.
MYTIME Young Carers
A UK-based charity that exists to support young carers aged between 5 and 25
Opportunities to unwind, experience new things and meet other young carers on our activity days
Fun breaks away at our R & R Retreat Centre on the Jurassic Coast
An online youth group where you can come together with other young carers
Support to your school so that they can better support you
An Employability Programme to help you find your way into further education, training or work
Be Free Young Carers (BFYC)
BFYC provides advice and guidance, befriending and peer support, enabling young carers to meet socialise and have fun, increasing their self-confidence and improving their mental well-being. They work with schools and families to help to alleviate the isolation, anxiety and stress that so many young carers experience. They also work with local schools to educate and offer guidance from referrals to respite opportunities. They are a not-for-profit charity and not government-funded, relying solely on donations and fundraising.
We support young Carers aged 8 to 17 years old, who are impacted by caring and Live or attend school/college within either South Oxfordshire or Oxford City Districts.
01235 838554 (9am – 5:30pm, Monday to Friday) email: yc@befreeyc.org.uk web www.befreeyc.org.uk
Life as a young carer: “You have the entire world on your shoulders”
1Xtra Talks with Richie Brave
Who Cares
Who Cares began in 2016 when The Lowry and Salford Young Carers Service commissioned a new production from the theatre company LUNG that would shine a light on the untold stories of young carers in Salford.
Nearly 200 unidentified carers were signposted to local services for support and the show was performed in the House of Lords.
Find out more.
Further information for young carers
Mobilise: www.mobiliseonline.co.uk/young-carers
Carers Trust: https://carers.org/about-caring/about-young-carers
Know Your Rights document from Carers Trust covering assessments, support and information for young carers.