Young Carers

What is a young carer?

A young carer is someone under the age of 18 who helps to care for a family member, relative or friend. A young person aged 16-25 with caring responsibilities can be known as a young adult carer.

As many as 1 in 5 children and young people are young carers in the UK.  

What do young carers do?

As a young carer you might support someone who has a disability, a long-term illness, or a problem with alcohol or drugs. Without this help, they would struggle or not be able to cope.

Young carers often do a lot of helpful things, such as: 

• Cook and prepare meals 

• Help with the shopping 

• Clean around the house 

• Manage medicines or money 

• Give personal care 

• Help their special person move and get out of the house 

• Look after their siblings 

• Give emotional support  

• Keep an eye on things generally 

If young carer families start to struggle financially, young carers also often take on work in addition to their caring responsibilities. 

Please speak to one of our Designated Safeguarding Leads if you would like more information, or for a referral to be made to Carers Matter Norfolk

Parent/carer referrals can also be made via the Carers Matter Norfolk website.