Young Carers

What is a Young Carer?

Young carers are children under the age of 18, who take on physical, practical, or emotional tasks at home due to someone in their family having an illness, disability, difficulty with drugs or alcohol or experiences mental ill health.

A Young Carer may support a:

Parent
Brother or sister
Grandparent
Other family members

The child or young person may:

Help a family member get dressed or washed
Help with household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, washing, shopping or paying bills
Remind and/or take a family member to appointments
Collect prescriptions or help a family member to take medication
Take care of younger brothers or sisters or other family members.

Why is it important to recognise Young Carers?

Caring for someone can have a significant impact on a young person’s life.

It can affect their:

Physical and emotional wellbeing
Education and attendance
Friendships and social life
Sleep and time for themselves
Family relationships

However, every Young Carer is different. Some may feel that their caring role is a positive part of family life, while others may find it difficult or overwhelming. They may often worry about the person who is cared for

LTHT recognise that identifying a young person’s caring role is an important first step in understanding their circumstances and getting them and their families the right support

What can you do to help or access support?

Leeds Young carers Support Service (LYCSS) is a charity who support families young carers to reduce the caring tasks children and young people provide and support families to improve their quality of life.

Who can access this service: Children & young people under 18 years in a caring role
Availability: Self-referral and Professional referrals