Young Carers
If you are a young carer aged under 18 it's important that you get the support you need. Find out more at Directgov >>
What should young carers expect?
A young carer's role is often misunderstood and undervalued by society and their needs are overlooked. Like all young people young carers should expect to have:
- time to enjoy social activities
- time to participate fully in school and
- time to pursue further education if they so choose
- time to form friendships
- holidays
- time to be alone
- time to be ill themselves
- to seek help when they need it
- to have access to a specialist carers support group and
- to receive an appropriate assessment.
Organisations
Carers UK
Carers UK is the voice of carers and the leading campaigning, policy and information organisation for carers. For a free Carers Information Pack write to the address listed here or call CarersLine.
Helpline: 0808 808 7777
Telephone: 020 7378 4999
Address: 20 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4LX
Fax: 020 7378 9781
Email: info@ukcarers.org
Website: http://www.carersuk.org
Opening Hours: Weds and Thurs 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm
Childline
Childline offers confidential support and advice to children and young people in trouble or in danger. The lines are often very busy. Don't give up if you don't get though straight away. Alternatively you could contact them via their website.
Childline also works in partnership with schools. For more information about the CHIPS team visit the website.
If you are deaf or find using a regular phone difficult, try our Textphone service which provides confidential support and advice via a textphone. You can call on 0800 400 222 and it's open from 9.30am to 9.30pm on weekdays and 9.30am to 8pm at weekends.
Telephone: 0800 1111
Address: NSPCC, Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH
Website: http://www.childline.org.uk/
Crossroads Caring for Carers
Crossroads works to deliver much needed respite in the form of short breaks in the home to carers to relieve them of the stress often associated with caring, as well as a quality of service otherwise not available to them. Crossroads currently operates a network of 65 projects that support young carers.
Telephone: 0845 450 0350
Address: 10 Regent Place, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 2PN
Fax: 0845 450 6556
Website: http://www.crossroads.org.uk/
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award for Young People
The Diana Award recognises the contribution young people make to their school, family or community.
Telephone: 0845 3372987
Address: 2nd Floor Downstream Building, 1 London Bridge, London, SE1 9BG
Fax: 020 7785 3837
Email: awards-info@continyou.org.uk
Website: http://www.diana-award.org.uk/
Princess Royal Trust for Carers
Young Carers.net is an online support service provided for young people under 18, who are carers. You can also visit the Princess Royal Trust for Carers website: http://www.carers.org/home/
Telephone: (0844) 800 4361
Address: 142 Minories, London, EC3N 1LB
Minicom: Unit 14, Bourne Court, Southend Road, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 8HD
Fax: (0844) 800 4362
Email: help@carers.org
Website: http://www.youngcarers.net/
Samaritans
The Samaritans offer confidential emotional support to everyone passing through difficult periods of personal crisis and at risk of suicide. The helpline is staffed by trained volunteer befrienders who give support and advice to people in distress. The Samaritans have over 200 local branches throughout the UK.
If you use the e-mail service, you remain anonymous; your name and address code is deleted before the message is transmitted. Local contact numbers are listed inside the front cover of the local telephone directory.
Helpline: 08457 90 90 90
Telephone: 020 8394 8300
Address: Chris, P.O. Box 9090, Stirling, FK8 2SA
Minicom: 08457 90 91 92
Fax: 01753 775787
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Website: http://www.samaritans.org/
See also: Change Our Minds website: http://www.changeourminds.com/
Opening Hours: Helpline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is the price of a local call.
XY Young Carers
We are a voluntary organisation that provides respite for young carers. Young Carers meet together and have a go at a range of activities and projects from dance art or drama workshops, to chilling out, chatting, playing pool, to sports & games, to training in fire safety and first aid and much more. XY Young Carers Team offers a range of options from someone to talk to, training , to advice, to advocacy, to practical help, all dependant on what the young carers needs/wants.
Telephone: 01270 255475
Address: 133a Crewe Road, Haslington, Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 5RG.
Email: xyteam@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.cheshireyoungcarers.co.uk/
Young Carers
Part of The Children's Society, the Young Carers Initiatve aims to create a national focus for people that work to support young carers and their families across England and the UK. They also provide information and support for young carers and their families.
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