Carers Week - young carers
Caring is hard on anyone, but it can be especially hard for carers who are underage. Ill health in the family can come on suddenly, and some young people are forced into their roles by circumstance. If you or someone you know is a younger carer, there is help and support out there for you.
One of the main obstacles for younger carers is self-identification. Without identifying themselves as a carer, or knowing what a carer is, it can be very difficult to access support. Many carers see their relationship with the person they care for as simply a child, parent, friend, or neighbour, and don't recognise the word 'carer' as a term they would use. This is why identification by health professionals is so important.
If you or someone you know is a younger carer, there's support out there for you. The Carers Trust runs a network of local carer organisations in England, Scotland and Wales, offering information, advice, practical support and/or care in the home to unpaid carers of all ages. Many of these organisations have specific services dedicated to younger carers.
Their website is also full of resources to help you with your journey to accessing support.
Noah is 18 and has been a young carer for his sister with Down's syndrome since he was about 5 or 6 years old. He kindly shared his story with us, and said:
"I’ve learned how to mature beyond my age and have had to be like it for a very long time, it taught me a lot about just getting on with things, as a lot of things I have to do I know a lot of other siblings wouldn’t do the same or would complain, however I take it in my stride.
"On the other hand, I do suffer with mental health issues, and whilst that possibly may not have a direct correlation to my role, I have obtained the bad habit of back-seating my thoughts as I felt I had to have my carer role on standby at all times. So for me I found it hard to address my own personal issues."
Read the rest of Noah's story to find out how he used his local carer service for support, and what impact that's had on him.
There are plenty of events for younger and older carers to check out this week, so take a look at the Carers Week website for things to do in your area.
