Are you a young carer
If you help to look after a member of your family or a friend who has a physical or mental illness, disability, or who takes drugs or alcohol, you are a young carer.
Young carers are those aged 5 to 16 years. The person they care for could be a parent, sibling, or other relative living in their home.
Young adult carers are those aged between 17 and 25 who provide unpaid care for a family member.
What does a young carer do
A young carer may care for a friend or family member who cannot support themselves.
You may:
- cook meals, do housework or go shopping
- help someone get out of bed
- give emotional support, such as listening when someone is upset
- help someone get dressed
- manage money or collect prescriptions
- help someone take their medicine
- help someone communicate
- look after younger brothers or sisters
Young carers also tend to be more independent. They often take on tasks that other young people their age may not do, such as travelling to school on their own or taking siblings to school.