Young People Who Care
Research has shown that there are approximately 175,000 young carers in the UK.
Young carers are children aged 5-18 who look after someone in their family: mum, dad, brother or sister, granddad or grandma and who have an illness, a disability, learning difficulties, mental health problems or a substance misuse problem.
Are you a young carer?
Find out if you are a young carer by going through the questions below.
1. Does anyone in your family have any of the below:
- a physical disability or sensory impairment
- a learning disability
- a long term illness, like cancer, etc.
- HIV/AIDS
- mental ill health, including eating disorders, depression, etc.
2. Are you helping to look after someone at home?
- No
- Yes
- Mum
- Dad
- Brother
- Sister
- Grandparent
- Someone else
3. Most young people undertake caring tasks at some time with their family. Do you do any of the following jobs in your home?
- I do lots of jobs around the house, like washing up, cooking, cleaning, etc.
- I help someone to wash, bath or shower
- I give medication
- I worry a lot about someone's health
- I accompany someone to hospital or doctor's surgery
- I'm a translator for someone because English is not their first language or they can't physically hear or speak
- I stay in a lot to be there for someone
- I help with something else
4. Do you ever want any help?
- Often
- Sometimes
- Never
5. Have the tasks you do at home ever made you:
- miss school
- not do your homework
- get you in trouble at school
- get teased, picked on or bullied at school
- not want/not able to bring friends home
- unable to concentrate in class
- worry a lot and feel stressed
- unable to take part in after school activities or meet with friends
If you answered YES to most of these questions...
If you answered yes to most of the questions, then you may be a young carer!
You aren't alone and there is support and advice available to you. The Young Carer's Project can offer you:
- Fun! Activities, outings, workshops, days out and trips
- Someone who will listen when you need it and who is on your side
- Information and advice for the whole family. If there person you look after can find more help or benefits, that might mean more free time for you!
For more information, advice or a confidential chat you can contact the project yourself or ask someone you know (like a family member or youth worker) to do it for you:
Diane
Tel: 020 3031 2754
Mobile: 07818 878 931
Email: youngcarers1@kingstoncarers.org.uk
Monika
Tel: 020 3031 2756
Mobile: 07554 270 171
Email: youngcarers2@kingstoncarers.org.uk
Noble Centre, 109 Blagdon Road, New Malden KT3 4BD
Also see:
- Benefits: Carer's Allowance
Young carers aged 16 and over may be able to claim Carer's Allowance if they spend 35+ hours a week caring for a relative or neighbour.