Introduction

The 2011 Census identified 177,918 young carers in England and Wales. One in eight of those were aged under eight.

Families routinely face many challenges on any given day. Occasionally, the care needs for a parent, sibling or family member will mean a child must take on notably more responsibilities than is typical for their age group. These responsibilities may last a few days or weeks i.e. additional help whilst a parent recovers from a broken leg or an operation and is less mobile. Once the responsibilities exist weeks into months and years either for a parent, sibling or family member, the Young Carer may also need some looking after and potentially respite. Schools and their partner organisations are in a good position and have capacity to look after and look out for Young Carers - we just need to know which children reasonably meet the following definition:

You're a young carer if you're under 18 and help to look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem.

If you believe your child or a child you know broadly and reasonably meets the definition above please help us help them - they deserve it and probably wouldn't dream of asking for help or recognition of the special things they do.

Email: Pastoral@chesswood.w-sussex.sch.uk

Email is really helpful as there are less misunderstandings or miscommunications given the key information is set out in writing and can be clarified as we go along. However, if you do not have access to email please call the school Pastoral team on 01903 204141 to alert us to your child or a child you know could reasonably be considered a Young Carer.

What might a young carer do?

Young carers may undertake all sorts of help, support and care activities beyond normal expectations of a child in the same age group i.e. beyond keeping the bed room tidy and helping with some household chores.

Some people start giving care at a very young age and don't really realise they're carers. Other young people become carers overnight.

• Practical tasks, like cooking, housework and shopping.
• Physical care, such as helping someone out of bed. 
• Emotional support, including talking to someone who is distressed.
• Personal care, such as helping someone dress.
• Managing the family budget and collecting prescriptions.
• Helping to give medicine. 
• Helping someone communicate.
• Looking after brothers and sisters.

Young Carer Promotion

Further Information

Guide	Link
Being a young carer NHS Website guide. Click on the image opposite or follow this LINK
Young Carers WSCC Support, information and advice for carers aged under 18.Click on the image opposite or follow this LINK
West Sussex Young carers Family Service West Sussex Young Carers Family Service supports young carers under 18 with information, support, advice and signposting. Click on the image opposite or follow this LINK
Young MInds Young carers Support As a young carer you can find helping someone very rewarding, but you also have the right to be looked after. Find out what young carers do, how to spot if it’s getting too much and what to do about it. Click on the image opposite or follow this LINK
Carers Trust Carers Trust is a major charity for, with and about carers. We work to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring, unpaid, for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems. Our vision is that unpaid carers count and can access the help they need to live their lives. Click on the image opposite or follow this LINK
Carers UK Help, advice and guidance for carers, including Young carers and carers of children under 18 Young carers and carers of children under 18 have different assessments to adult carers of adults. Our factsheets include further information. Click on the image opposite or follow this LINK
Carers support West Sussex Carers Support West Sussex is an independent charity supporting some of the 89000 family and friend carers living in West Sussex. Click on the image opposite or follow this LINK