Young Carers
Young carers do an amazing job and often feel very proud of the job they do.
What is a Young Carer?
A Young Carer is a person aged between 5 and 25 who cares for, or who is affected by, a family member who has a physical disability, a long-term physical illness, a mental health illness or a dependency on drugs and/or alcohol.
Young Carers do more in the family home than would usually be expected by a child of their age. This might mean that they do the shopping or manage the household bills, support someone emotionally or provide help to someone to get them washed and dressed.
We know that there are hundreds of Young Carers in Suffolk but many are hidden because they do not realise that they are a young carer, or because of fears of stigma/external involvement.
Being a Young Carer can have a significant impact on their physical and mental health, educational attainment and their transition into adulthood.
Information and Support
Suffolk County Council provide an information service for Young Carers called Young Carers Unlimited. The service helps to raise awareness about Young Carers and the issues they may face. It also provides information to professionals such as health and social care workers, teachers and community groups, as well as to Young Carers themselves.
Young Carers Unlimited also work with a number of different organisations in Suffolk to provide activities for Young Carers. Please visit the What's On page for more information.
Suffolk Family Carers also provide support for Young Carers and they have lots of information on their website.
Suffolk Family Carers also hold regular clubs for registered Young Carers to give them a break from their caring role and offer them a chance to make new friends, have fun, learn new skills and build self-confidence and self-esteem.
Please see the Suffolk Family Carers website for more information on Young Carers.