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YRN North East

Young Carers Research Project - Young Researcher Network 2010/11 grant winners

Investing in Children was recently awarded a small research grant from the Young Researcher Network. The research will be carried out between October 2010 and March 2011 and will focus on a key question around young people with caring responsibilities

Should young people in County Durham take on caring roles?

Despite the fact that there is legislation around young people and caring responsibilities and there have been efforts to set up services to address the needs of young carers, these all appear to be based on the assumption that caring roles will and should continue.

Often young people take on a caring role for their family member because there is no-one else available or able to take on this role. If young people were given a choice, they might choose not to perform the role if they knew their family member was being properly cared for by others.

A Young People’s Steering Group will take the lead in facilitating the research activities, data analysis and dissemination of the research findings. The research will involve several events or Agenda Days which are adult free spaces, facilitated by young people during which an agenda for action is developed. In addition to this there may be questionnaires, surveys etc.

The Agenda Days will be opportunities for children and young people who have caring responsibilities to meet together and share experiences, identify common issues and discuss the central question.

We will be working alongside other local and regional groups including Barnardo’s, DISC and Action for Children who will be active partners in the research and we will be able to involve young carers from across the region to take part in a variety of activities.

For further information please contact:
Felicity Shenton
Investing in Children Development Manager
0191 3867485 or felicity.shenton@durham.gov.uk

Research Reports from the region

Have Your Say Research Report – North Tyneside – ‘How Looked After Children are Involved in their Review Process’

Investing in Children Research Report – Durham – ‘How effective are young people’s health liaison officers and why are they needed in our local NHS trust?’

Making the lives of young people in care better - Bradford Youth Service report (GLUW)