Young Carers’

Young Carers’

A young carer is a child or young person under 18 whose life is affected by caring for a family member who has a physical illness or disability, mental health difficulties, sensory or learning disability or has a problematic use of drugs or alcohol.

Looking after a person might mean:

• listening to them and keeping them company
• cooking meals and making drinks
• interpreting and translating
• looking after brothers and sisters when parents are unwell
• cleaning and tidying the house
• providing personal care such as helping with dressing and bathing
• doing shopping, laundry, ironing
• helping with medication
• managing finances

Young Carers' ID Card Scheme

Apply for a Young Carers' ID Card

http://www.barnardos.org.uk/carefree/md_care_free_young_carers__services-newpage.htm

The ID Card will:

• Give permission for healthcare professionals to share information with a young carer about the health of the person they are caring for in 4 different areas. These areas are: Medication, Diagnosis, Prognosis and Discharge/Care Planning (see The Application Process and FAQ for more details)
• The card also acts as an alert. If a young carer has an accident and is taken to hospital, their Young Carer ID Card will make staff aware that there is potentially a vulnerable person at home.

Enquiries & Referrals:

To make an enquiry or referral for a young carer please call 0116 286 7182 during office hours and ask to speak to a city CareFree project worker. 
Or, you can make a secure online referral via our website.  Please note you must have the family's permission to make a referral.
Alternatively, if you or someone you know, is a young carer and needs some extra help and support, please write to the Leicester City Council at 91 Granby Street, Leicester, LE1 6FB.

Links

http://www.barnardos.org.uk/carefree.htm
Barnardo's CareFree Young Carers' Service was established in 1996 to offer a wide range of practical and emotional support services to young carers in Leicester and Leicestershire.

https://www.leicester.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/adult-social-care/support-for-carers/help-for-young-carers/
Leicester City Council page on help, assessments and support for Young Carers’.

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/pages/young-carers-rights.aspx
Your rights as a Young Carer

Attachments

Voluntary organisations that support carers