- 1 minute |
- May 3, 2022
We care for young carers
Often young people think that looking after a family member is normal or it’s just what they do, but if you do this regularly and someone depends on your help, you are probably a carer. Young carers are children and young people whose lives are affected by caring for someone at home. Although there are lots positives to caring it can also be hard, take up your time and affect how you think and feel in good and bad ways. It can also affect your school and social life.
What is a young Carer?
You may be a young carer if you support someone at home by helping them do any of the following because they can’t do it themselves due to needing care and support:
- Get washed
- Get dressed
- Help with reading, writing and hearing
- Shopping
- Paying bills or managing money
- Medication
- Organising family life
Our support for carers
Young Carers Assessments
To help, we will carry out an assessment first. This helps us to understand what life is like for you as a young carer and helps you to find out what support you can get and how to get it. During your assessment we look at:- Tasks you carry out at home and for the person, you care for
- How caring affects your social life, your physical and emotional health and your access to education
- What support is already in place for you
- What other support is available for you and your family
Support Work
Life is different for each young carer so the support we offer will be made to fit your own situation. You can also access one to one or group support work to get the help that’s right for you.
Support workers can help you to manage your feelings, worries about caring, share your ambitions or wishes while getting a chance to build your knowledge and skills around caring. You may want to know more about the condition for the person you care for or chat about your future.
Events and activities and meeting other carers
It is important for you to have time out from caring but it can be difficult to do that because things like costs or you may not be able to join in things because of caring. We provide free activities so that you get a chance to have fun, make new friends, be with others who understand, have time to yourself and to do things you may not usually be able to Please look at our online calendar or newsletter to find out more.Peer Mentoring and Befriending
Some of our experienced young adult carers volunteer their time to mentor other young carers who need a little extra help. These mentors are a great support as they have already been on a caring journey themselves. They know how to get the right help,do well in education and make time for fun around caring.We also have trained adult befrienders to support young carers.
This support is available individually or in a group.
Training
We offer a range of training to support you in your r caring role and the programme is designed by young carers themselves. What we deliver has been informed by the carers steering group. In the past, we have provided training or workshops in: first aid; managing conflict; managing stress and pressure; self-esteem and self-confidence.
Please look at our calendar or the newsletter for more details.
carers stories
It is critical for young carers to be identified early so they can get the right support at the right time. Young carers in Solihull tell their story of what it means to them to be a carer and how they have been supported. If you have a story to share, please contact us.
- 1 minute |
- May 3, 2022
Young carers in Solihull
- 1 minute |
- May 3, 2022
Video test 10
faq's
Will social services be involved?
There is no need for social services to be involved unless there is a risk of harm to the young carer. This could be because of, too many caring responsibilities, inappropriate caring or neglect.What services are available to me?
Carers assessments, look at everything you do as a carer and how we can help. One to one sessions with a Support Worker can help you with your feelings and anything related to caring. Events and clubs, We know young carers need a time out – so we offer activities at little or no cost to give you a chance to have fun and make new friends with others who understand. We also run peer mentoring and befriending sessions. You will also be issued with a carers card that can be used for discounts.Can I join your service without my parents knowing?
Yes, you can, if you are over the age of 14 you can have limited support from us. You won’t be able to attend any of the events or activities as we need parental consent for that but you will be able to have a one-to-one session with a support worker. This can be arranged to take place at your school or at another appropriate place. e to have fun and make new friends with others who understand. We also run peer mentoring and befriending sessions. You will also be issued with a carers card that can be used for discounts.Will I be able to go to all of the activities?
Not all of them, we support a lot of carers and we never have enough places for everyone. We make our selections based on a young carer’s need for a break from caring first. After that, we then look at when was the last time you attended a trip. You can register your interest in everything, if there is no space you will be put on the waiting list. If anyone drops out you may be called last minute to see if you want to attend.I don’t want to do anything; I don’t know anyone?
Meeting other carers that know what you are going through helps to reduce isolation.
We always do a quick icebreaker for people to get to know one another a bit better. There are also staff, peer mentors and befrienders that can help you. You do not have to do anything that you don’t want to, it is entirely up to you. This is the same for any activity we have if you change your mind that is ok.
Some only have a carers card so that can have a discount or a free place because they are a carer.
