Young carers in Hertfordshire Are you under 18 and help to look after a friend or family member who has an illness, disability, mental health condition or addiction? If so, you could be a young carer. Young carers – get help Parents Professionals
Young carers in Hertfordshire Are you under 18 and help to look after a friend or family member who has an illness, disability, mental health condition or addiction? If so, you could be a young carer. Young carers – get help Parents Professionals
Young carers in Hertfordshire Are you under 18 and help to look after a friend or family member who has an illness, disability, mental health condition or addiction? If so, you could be a young carer. Young carers – get help Parents Professionals
A young carer is someone under 18 who cares for a friend or family member who cannot cope without their support.
A young carer might help with: 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 collecting prescriptions and helping to give medicine helping someone communicate, such as using sign language or interpreting looking after brothers and sisters. Those are just examples – every young carer and their situation is unique.
Looking after someone can take up a lot of your time. It’s normal to find things difficult. You’re not alone and you can get help. When you’re ready to reach out If there’s someone you trust, like a teacher, support worker, health professional or someone involved in caring for the person you look after, you can talk to them about how you’re feeling. You can also contact us so we can work out what support might make things easier. We can help you: get the information and advice you need access services that are right for you find support in your community connect with organisations and young carer services get extra help for you and your family if you need it.
Get some help Getting support starts with you telling us about what your day looks like. You can do this by completing a Day in the Life form. This form is for anyone who thinks they are a young carer, lives in Hertfordshire and is under 18. Complete the Day in the Life form The form takes 20–30 minutes to complete. It's easier to complete with someone to talk through the questions. It can be helpful to ask someone at your school, college, or a service supporting you or your family to help you. If you're under 16, you'll need consent from your parent or carer to complete the form. If you're 16 or over, you don't need consent to complete the form. Contact us 01992 658469 Monday–Thursday: 9am–5.30pm Friday: 9am–4.30pm If you need urgent help outside these times, call 0300 123 4043. Or email youngcarers@hertfordshire.gov.uk if it’s not urgent. Practical help Advice and support for young carers (Children's Society) – they can help you understand your rights as a young carer, introduce you to other young carers, advise you on different ways into education and employment. Young Carers (Carers Trust) – they advise young carers and young adult carers about support available and their rights. Financial support for young carers (MoneyHelper) – find out about the benefits available to you. Services for Young People – provides youth work projects, careers education, work-related learning and wider support. Booklet for young carers (me-we.eu) – developed by young carers to give information about looking after yourself, growing up and thinking about your future. Emotional support HertsHub – about mental health, including stress, anxiety and grief. Young carers (Herts Community NHS Trust) – young carers health journal for information on services and how to speak to schools and GPs about your caring role. School advice for young carers (Children's Society) – advice on talking to school about schoolwork, homework, attendance and bullying.
Get some help Getting support starts with you telling us about what your day looks like. You can do this by completing a Day in the Life form. This form is for anyone who thinks they are a young carer, lives in Hertfordshire and is under 18. Complete the Day in the Life form The form takes 20–30 minutes to complete. It's easier to complete with someone to talk through the questions. It can be helpful to ask someone at your school, college, or a service supporting you or your family to help you. If you're under 16, you'll need consent from your parent or carer to complete the form. If you're 16 or over, you don't need consent to complete the form. Contact us 01992 658469 Monday–Thursday: 9am–5.30pm Friday: 9am–4.30pm If you need urgent help outside these times, call 0300 123 4043. Or email youngcarers@hertfordshire.gov.uk if it’s not urgent.