Young carers: support and advice
Children and young people under 18 who have caring
responsibilities are often referred to as 'young carers.' These are
young people whose lives are restricted in some way because they
are supporting or taking responsibility for care of a person who is
ill, has a disability or mental illness or misuses a substance. The
majority of young carers are from single parent families and take
on adult responsibilities.
Not every young person who has a parent, sibling or grandparent
who is ill or disabled is a young carer, but of those young people
who are taking on extra responsibilities, recent research has shown
that:
- one quarter are missing school or have difficulties with
lateness, no time to do homework or have other problems
- twelve per cent of young carers are caring for more than one
person
- more than half are providing care for their mother and one
third for their brothers or sisters
Young carers will usually need support from adults, health and
well-being services or children's social care services. They will
assess the support needs of the adult or sibling child they care
for and ensure that those needs are met by paid services as far as
is possible, so that the young carer has to do as little as
possible for that person. They may also need support from
children's services in their own right as a “child in need” of
extra support.
Tower Hamlets has recently published the Young Carers' Strategy
2008-11. To download the strategy, please click
here (1078kb).
Health Care
Do you look after someone? Have you had a health check in
the last six months? Do you need any support? Find out
more if you are a young carer or a professional working with young
carers.
Tower Hamlets Youth and Connexions Service: Young Carers and
Siblings Group
London Borough of Tower Hamlets Youth and
Connexions services are operating the Young Carers and Siblings
Group. Young carers aged between 6 and 18 years are welcome to
attend.
The project aims to:
- give young carers the opportunity to
take a break from the daily responsibilities of being a
carer;
- give young carers the
opportunity to mix with other young carers in
a social setting and engage in sports, leisure and social
activities;
- support young carers on any
issues concerning them and offer one to
one advice and guidance from the borough's core team of
personal advisors.
The group can take part in activities such as
art, drama, music, photography, canoeing, biking, climbing,
swimming, cinema, bowling, day trips and other activities as
decided by the young people who attend.
Through club based and non club based
activities the young carers will be supported by personal advisors
to develop their self esteem and self confidence through group
based activities and one to one support from a personal
advisor.
Club Session Timetable
Mondays
6.30pm to
8.30pm Age
group 13-18
Tuesday
5.30 pm to
7.30pm Age
group 8-13
The club based activities take place at: The
Urban Adventure Base, 150 Burdett Road, Mile End Park, London E3
4JT.
For more information please
contact:
Akhtar Rahim
Tel: 020 7364 5834
E-mail: akhtar.rahim@towerhamlets.gov.uk
LBTH New Start
St Mary's Church Hall
First Floor, Kitcat Terrace
Bow E3 2SA.
Carers Connect Project
The Carers Connect Project supports young carers and their
families living with someone who has mental health problems. It is
run by Family Action (formerly Family Welfare Association) based
at:
Albert Jacob House
62 Roman Road
London E2 0PG
Carers Connect Project telephone number 020 7364 3497
For general enquiries or referrals: 020 7364 3491
The aim is to give young carers and their families some relief from
the pressures they face and, through our programme of outings and
events, give them opportunities to meet and make friends with other
children in similar circumstances.
Toyhouse Libraries Family Play Young Carers'
Group
For children up the age of 11, with their
siblings and parents. Saturday mornings.
Toyhouse Libraries Association of Tower Hamlets
The Toyhouse Centre
92 St Paul's Way
London E3 4AL
Tel: 020 7987 7399
Email: info@toyhouselibraries.org.uk
Web: www.toyhouselibraries.org.uk
Further information
Young Carers' Services Development Manager: Michael
O'Meara
Tel: 020 7364 6405/6293
Email: michael.o'meara@towerhamlets.gov.uk