Young Carers Information for Families and Professionals
Who are young carers?
Young Carers are young people and children who take on responsibilities at home or elsewhere suffers from an illness or disability, has been ill for a long time, experiences mental ill health or has a problem linked to alcohol or drugs.
Lots of children and young people want to help out and feel proud that they are lending a hand. At the same time, the impact of these caring responsibilities may cause difficulties at home, in school/college, or elsewhere.
Young Carers often feel isolated, stressed, tired, worried, and sad. They may be late for school, find it difficult to complete their homework, lose out on time with family and friends, and not have time to attend social activities.
Sometimes it can be difficult to recognise someone as a Young Carer – but does this sound like your family or a family you know?
Access Self Help
How To Refer a Young Carer to the Young Carers Service
Who can refer a young carer to the service?
Parents, young people, and professionals are all welcome to contact us.
It will be helpful to have some information on the care being undertaken and the impact of this care on the child/young person and family.
And if you are a professional making a referral on behalf of a Young Carer and their family, please ensure you have consent to do so and you have talked to them about what they hope to benefit from the involvement of the Young Carers Service.
What happens after a referral is made?
Once we receive the referral, we will contact the family and arrange a suitable time and place for the parent/ Guardian and the Young Carer to discuss with our Young Carers Workers how the caring role is impacting on the Young Carer.
We will then agree upon the most appropriate form of support for the Young Carer.
Make a Referral
Referral Form
Please fill in the form below. Make sure you read the information above and have consent from the young person’s guardian to make the referral.
If you do not like forms or cannot complete this form for whatever reason, please contact us using the details on the contact page of this website and we can take a referral in a way that suits you.
