Young carers and young adult carers
A young carer is someone under the age of 18 who helps to look after a relative who has:
- a disability
- illness
- mental health condition
- issues with substance/alcohol misuse.
A young adult carer is someone aged up to 25 with caring responsibilities.
Most young carers and young adult carers care for a parent or sibling. They might also care for a grandparent or someone else in their extended family.
They may be supporting with tasks in the home such as:
- cleaning
- cooking
- helping someone to get dressed
- helping someone to get around their home and the community
- looking after siblings
- providing emotional support, for example:
- listening to someone
- trying to keep them calm
What is the difference between a young carer and another young person who helps in the home?
A young carer has to help because the person they care for cannot meet all their own needs.
Other young people who help in the home take on tasks and responsibilities as part of growing up and gaining independence.
How do we help young carers?
Darlington Young Carers Service helps to reduce the impact of caring for someone on young carers aged 5-25.
We do this by helping them access the same opportunities available to people who do not care for someone.
Our support includes:
- One to one support, which gives young carers the opportunity to talk in a safe space.
- Break activities. These give young carers the opportunity to meet each other and receive peer support.
- Information, advice and guidance.
- Family support.
- Signposting and making referrals to other services to provide extra support.
- Raising awareness of the issues faced by young carers with other services. This includes universal, statutory and third sector services.
We do this by:
- Providing awareness training to services working with young people
- Giving presentations and assemblies in schools. These raise awareness amongst staff and pupils. The schools also have the opportunity to achieve the ‘Young Carers Charter’ award.
Why do young carers need support?
Being a young carer can affect many areas of a young person’s life. This could include school, college, employment and socialising.
A young person's caring role may become over demanding or inappropriate. This may lead to isolation from their peers. They may have less opportunities to reach their full potential.
Caring for someone is a big responsibility. Worry and stress can affect education attendance and achievement. This can have an impact on a young carer’s mental health.
Contact Details
To discuss a potential referral or request a form please contact us using any of the details below.
Humankind Darlington Young Carers
- Call the Senior Practitioner, Cheryl Hunter: 07584 391789
- Email general enquiries: [email protected]
- Office telephone: 01325 483038
We accept referrals from any agency. We need parental consent for those under 16. Families and young carers can also refer themselves.