Are you a young carer? Not sure?
A young carer is someone aged 16 or under who looks after or helps to look after someone. It might be your mum or dad, grandparent, brother or sister or a close relative or friend. This means doing things like cooking, cleaning, shopping, giving medication or just talking and helping when the person you care about is feeling sad. Looking after someone takes up a lot of time and it can sometimes be very difficult to cope with everything. School, friends and doing the stuff you enjoy can sometimes be hard to fit in.
The Children’s Society website is also full of information that might help.
Help and support
If you think you might be a young carer, talk to someone you trust and ask them to help you get support. It’s really helpful to talk to your teacher or doctor and let them know you look after someone. Community First: Youth Action Wiltshire is the ‘youth arm’ of Wiltshire based charity Community First. They work with young carers, young adult carers (aged 5 to 19), and their families in Wiltshire through a dedicated Wiltshire Young Carers Service.
You can contact them on wiltshireyoungcarers@youthactionwiltshire.org, or 01380 720 671 for more information regarding their young carer offer.
We also encourage you to refer young carers to Wiltshire Council. You can make the referral to MASH by calling 0300 456 0108 or emailing MASH@wiltshire.gov.uk
Should you have any questions or if you need assistance, please feel free to leave us a message at 0800 181 4118 or email us at admin@carersupportwiltshire.co.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
What happens if I get a young carer assessment?
In order to support you as a young carer, Wiltshire Council have a responsibility to make steps to identify and carry out Young Carer Assessments for carers under 18. If you have not had an assessment you can ask for one.
At 16 you are also entitled to a transition assessment.
Transition simply means changing from one process or period to another. For you as a young carer aged 16 – 18, the focus will be on the transition from childhood into adulthood.
What other help is out there for me?
Maybe you’re used to looking after someone, and are dealing with all new kinds of worry about their health and yours. Or maybe looking after someone is new to you. No matter your situation, there are some great websites, apps and helplines to help you.
A children and young people’s mental health helpline called On Your Mind has launched in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire. The helpline is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering advice, guidance and support to children, young people and carers.
9am – 5pm weekdays – 01865 903777
5pm-9am on weekdays or weekends – 01865 901000
Kooth
Kooth offers free, safe and anonymous online support for young people. You can also read blogs from other young people, and write in a private online journal about how you’re feeling. Their counsellors are online Monday – Fridays 12pm-1opm, Saturday – Sunday 6pm – 1opm.
Childline has a free helpline and also a 1-1 chat where you can talk to counsellors about anything you’re going through from 9am – 12am. They also have great resources for young people and children on a wide range of topics. They have a page dedicated to young carers here.
The Mix has a free helpline and online web chat for young people under 25 to talk about anything they’re struggling with. Their helpline and web chat is open from 4pm – 11pm, 7 days a week. You can also find information, advice and support for young people on a wide range of topics from mental health, to body image and more. They also have information around young adult carers.
Remember, don’t go through it alone. There is help out there for you.
If I could give advice to my 13-year-old self, or anyone else who is a young carer or a young adult carer and going through it now,
just keep in mind that it will get better.
Tessa, young adult carer.
What other help is out there for me?
Maybe you’re used to looking after someone, and are dealing with all new kinds of worry about their health and yours. Or maybe looking after someone is new to you. No matter your situation, there are some great websites, apps and helplines to help you.
Sidekick is a confidential helpline for young carers in the UK. You can message about anything that’s bothering you as a young carer. Sidekick is available for young carers aged 13 to 18 – and up to 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Text them on: 07888 868 059 and find their website here: https://sidekick.actionforchildren.org.uk/
A children and young people’s mental health helpline called On Your Mind has launched in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire. The helpline is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering advice, guidance and support to children, young people and carers.
9am – 5pm weekdays – 01865 903777
5pm-9am on weekdays or weekends – 01865 901000
On your Mind also has an Emotional wellbeing and mental health directory – a comprehensive list of all services available to young people.
