A young carer is someone who is under 18 years old and helps to look after someone. If you’re a young carer, you are more likely to look after your parents, a brother or a sister. You may take on extra responsibilities at home such as cooking or cleaning.
Wakefield Council has a Young Carers Team. They work with schools and agencies to support young carers and their families. You can contact the team at youngcarers@wakefield.gov.uk.
You can also contact your nearest family or youth hub to ask about the support they offer, You can find the contact details for the hubs on the Wakefield Families Together website.
A young carer becomes a young adult carer if they are aged 18-25. Carers Wakefield and District run group activities for young adult carers. You can find out more about these here.
You can contact Carers Wakefield and District on 01924 305544 or email info@carerswakefield.org.uk.
The Young Carers' Support App
This app offers clear and easily accessible advice. It is a useful resource for young carers and those who work with young carers. It has been co-produced with young carers. It is based on feedback on what support is needed to make their caring role easier.
You can download the app on android or on IOS.
Young Carers' Stories
You can listen to young carers and how caring impacts their lives You can find young carers stories on the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership website.
Below is a video explaining what young carers want people to know about being a carer.
One Minute Guides
These PDF guides provide information on identifying and supporting young carers. The guides are:
You can find more resources on this website.
Local councils and their partners have a duty to identify young carers and assess the impact of caring on them.
This relates to the Children Act 1989 and the Children and Families Act 2014.
It is your decision whether to tell a teacher that you are a caring for someone.
You do not have to tell them, but it could prove to be helpful for you. The best person to contact is the Young Carers champion at your school or college. They can support you and help you to connect with the Young Carers team.
You can find a useful video on how to ask for support and why it’s important here.