Definition

1. Definition • ‘Children and young people from 5 to 18 who provide care’. • A young carer is someone who takes responsibility for someone who is ill, disabled, elderly, experiencing mental distress or affected by substance misuse, or has substantial responsibility for caring for a sibling.

2. Who do they care for? • Parents • Grandparents • Siblings • Any other family member They may be the person providing all of the care but may also help along side someone else to provide the care.

3. The Caring Responsibilities • Domestictasks such as cooking, cleaning. • General care- nursing type tasks such as giving medication. • Emotionalsupport. • Intimate care - washing, assisting with toilet requirements. • Child care - helping with the raising of siblings.

4. The Impact of Caring YC often miss out on many everyday activities that other young people take for granted. • Poverty and low income • Bullying • Limited opportunities for social/leisure activities and lowered aspirations • Isolation, a feeling of exclusion.

5. The Projects Aims to • LISTEN to young carers • Provide SUPPORT and HELP for young carers. • Provide INFORMATION for young carers and their families e.g. who can help them, what benefits they are entitled to. • Offer ADVICE.

6. Organise GROUP ACTIVITIES where young carers can get together and make new friends and have FUN. • Arrange DAY TRIPS to places they don’t normally have the opportunity to go to. • Organise WEEKENDS/HOLIDAYS to give the carers a break from their caring tasks.

7. Who is eligible? Have Caring Responsibilities that stop them from having the opportunities that other children and young people would normally have. Children/Young people aged 5-18.

8. Contact Details RCT Young Carers Service Rachel or Kerris: 01443281463 youngcarerssupportteam@rctcbc.gov.uk