Am I A Young Carer?
Am I a Young Carer?
Maybe you are only doing what you’ve always done… maybe you aren’t sure whether your responsibilities make you a Young Carer. Read on to find out if you are a Young Carer.
What makes a Young Carer?
A Young Carer is someone under 18 who helps care for a family member or friend who is ill, disabled, has a mental health condition, or struggles with drug or alcohol use.
They might be supporting a parent, sibling, grandparent, or someone else close to them who:
Has a long-term illness like cancer
Is physically disabled
Has a learning disability or a neurological condition like autism or ADHD
Experiences mental health challenges
Has an addiction to drugs or alcohol
Young Carers often take on responsibilities well beyond their years — from cooking and cleaning to managing medication or providing emotional support. And they do all this while juggling school, friendships, and growing up.
There are around 700,000 Young Carers in the UK, and many don’t even realise that’s what they are.
Young Carers Bedford Borough is here to help them feel recognised, supported, and connected — because no young person should feel alone in their caring role.
What are some of the things you might do as a Young Carer?
These are the types of tasks you undertake which make you a Carer:
- Helping with cooking, cleaning and shopping.
- Helping with physical care, such as helping someone out of bed.
- Emotional support, including talking to someone who is upset.
- Helping to manage the family budget or collect prescriptions.
- Personal care, such as helping someone dress.
- Helping to give medicine.
- Helping someone communicate.
Who Am I?
This video is of a poem written by Young Carers using the voices of Young Carers describing what life is like as a Young Carer.
So now you can answer the question... Are you a Young Carer?
If you are still unsure whether or not you are a young carer it might be a good idea to show this page to a trusted adult, maybe at your school. Then ask them to click the button below for a guide to help you.
Need To Talk To Someone?
Sometimes it’s easier just to talk to someone. If you would like to speak to someone just click the button below and book a time that suits you.
