YOUNG CARERS

Who is a young carer?

A young carer is someone aged 18 and under who helps look after someone in their family, such as a parent or sibling, who has an illness, disability, mental health issue or an addiction.


What might a young carer do?

  • Practical tasks, like cooking, housework and shopping
  • Physical care, such as helping someone out of bed
  • Emotional support, including keeping people safe
  • Personal care, such as helping someone get dressed or helping someone with washing
  • Managing finances
  • Helping to give medicine
  • Helping someone communicate
  • Looking after brothers and sisters

Being a young carer can teach young people many useful skills but can also have a big impact on the things that are important to growing up.


Young carers can struggle with:

  • Not getting time to play or see friends
  • Feeling isolated from other people
  • Missing school or being late
  • Not being able to complete homework
  • Their own mental health
  • Feeling tired because of their caring responsibilities


Crossroads Young Carers

Crossroads runs a Young Carers project for children aged between 8 and 18 that provides fortnightly sessions for young carers so they can have regular breaks away from their caring responsibilities and give them the opportunity to make the most of their childhood. For more information about the project, you can visit the Crossroads website or contact them.


Crossroads

Telephone: 01624 673103

Email: info@crossroadsiom.org

Website: www.crossroadsiom.org

A leaflet can also be found here.


Other support

There are a number of organisations and resources available to support young carers with their caring responsibilities.

 
Mental health support

Isle Listen – https://talk.islelisten.im/#refer-a-young-person

Kooth - www.kooth.com 

Young Minds - www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/coping-with-life/young-carers 


Resources 

Carers Trust - www.carers.org/about-caring/about-young-carers 

NHS - www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/support-and-benefits-for-carers/help-for-young-carers 

 
Practical support

Isle of Man Youth Service - https://youth.sch.im