If you look after or care for anyone at home on a regular basis, then you can be considered as a young carer and entitled to help and support.

Young Carers are children or young people under 18, who care for a family member and carry out the sort of caring tasks we might normally expect to be done by an adult. The person they care for is normally a parent, brother/sister or some other family member and has a physical or learning disability, a severe or long term illness, or parent’s misusing alcohol and / or drugs.

Having caring responsibilities can be very difficult and challenging. Balancing looking after the person with school/college work and a social life can be tough. But there are places where you can go to and talk about these issues or get help and support (see contact details and links below).

Safety issues which might come up due to caring for someone

• We know that some young carers find school difficult and that some experience bullying. If you are being bullied or picked on always talk to someone you trust, a friend, parent, teacher, youth worker, Connexions PA etc. If it happens at school always report it and talk to a member of staff. (see 'Bullying' page on this site for more information)
• Many young carers feel that they are not given enough information about the illness or disability of the person they care for. This can be stressful and cause a lot of worry and concern. The Young Carers Project can help support you and find out more information and advise.
• Always let your school or youth club know about any caring role you have at home and any problems you may have. They are there to help you and give you support as and when you need it.
• If your parents are substance misusers, you may be worried about their drug or alcohol use or worried about any safety issues ie the home environment, people to don’t know coming to / from the house etc. The Brighton Oasis Project provide a specialist service for young people like yourself which can offer you advice and support. (for more information see details below or see ‘My Parents use Drugs’ story on the Dodgy Town map included on this website)

If you need any advice or support, please contact:

Young Carers Project

The Young Carers Project help young carers and their families to get the support they need from their school; social services, health services and housing. They also provide clubs and activities so that young carers can get a break from caring and meet other young carers.

For more information contact the details below or check out the Carers’ Centre website.

Young Carers Project, Carers' Centre for Brighton and Hove, Community Base, 113 Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XG

Tel: (01273) 234045
Fax: (01273) 234046
Text: 07704 409155

e-mail: info@thecarerscentre.org

Website: www.thecarerscentre.org

Support about drug or alcohol misuse within the Family

There are several services in the city who can provide information and support to young people who may live with family members who use drugs or alcohol.

Brighton Oasis Project

They provide friendly and confidential specialist support for children and young people affected by their parents substance use. For more information about the help and support they can offer you contact the details below.

Tel: (01273) 696970

The Patched Project

You can also phone Patched on 0800 085 4450 or (01273) 671607. The Patched Project offers advice and support to the families, partners, parents and carers of substance misusers and the wider community affected by substance misuse. They can provide help and support and offer a hotline phone service for people to contact them about any issue.

Links

www.thecarerscentre.org/

The Carers Centre for Brighton & Hove provide local support for anyone who is a carer in the city. They can provide you with further information about your rights, support service for you, give you advise etc.

www.carersuk.org/

Carers UK is the national organisation of carers. This is an excellent source of information about carers rights, national campaigns and government policy.

www.carers.org/

A national "umbrella" organisation for Carers Centres. The Trust exists to make it easier for carers to cope by providing information, support and practical help to carers.

www.youngcarers.net/

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers website has lots of information, advice, help and support for young carers.

www.youngcarer.com/

The Children's Society National Young Carers Initiative work with young carers projects and other organisations to develop good quality support and information for young carers, their families and those who work to support them.