Crossroads Young Carers

Who is a young carer?

A young carer is someone under 18 who helps look after someone in their family, or a friend, who is ill, disabled, has mental health issues or misuses drugs or alcohol.

Young-Leader-24-02-17-053-1980x1020

How a caring role can affect a young carer:

Emotionally – putting others first, being worried anxious or stressed

Physically – Suffering strains from heavy lifting, not looking after their own health

Socially – Not able to meet up with friends

Educationally – Difficulties concentrating in class, feeling tired, worried, no time for homework

What might a young carer do?

  • Practical tasks, such as cooking, housework, shopping and family budgeting
  • Emotional support, such as talking to someone who is distressed
  • Personal care, such as helping someone out of bed with a hoist and to help them to dress
  • Helping with siblings
  • Helping to give medicine, collecting prescriptions