Help for young carers

How to tell if you're a young carer

You’re a young carer if you’re both of these:

• 18 years old or younger
• helping someone at home because they can’t look after themselves

You may be regularly helping a family member – adult or child – who has a:

• long-term illness – such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes
• physical disability – eg uses a wheelchair, is deaf or blind
• mental health problem – like depression or schizophrenia
• problem with drugs or alcohol

You may have to:

• help someone wash, go to the toilet or get dressed
• lift someone, help them using the stairs or with physiotherapy
• cook, do the housework or go shopping because an adult can’t do it
• manage your family’s budget, collect benefits and prescriptions
• give medicine or pills to an adult or disabled brother or sister
• go with someone to the doctor or hospital
• look after a brother or sister and make sure they’re safe
• translate or interpret for someone
• cheer someone up or help them when they are feeling down

Additional support if you are over 18

We work with Barnardo’s Carefree to deliver assessments and support for young carers.  As part of this we are able to support Young Adult Carers (YACs)  who may be over 18 but need support as they transition to adult support services.  For further information please contact Barnardo’s Carefree via their carefree referral form.

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