A young carer is someone under the age of 18 who looks after or helps to look after someone. It might be their mum or dad, grandparent, brother or sister or a close relative. This often means doing things like cooking, cleaning, shopping, giving medication or just talking and helping when the person they care about is feeling sad. Looking after someone takes up a lot of time, and it can sometimes be very difficult to cope with everything and find time for things they enjoy.
If you are a young carer, it is important that you let the surgery know so that we can give you support. If you are unsure about letting us know and why its a good thing, we would encourage you to watch this short video on YouTube called ‘Out of the Woods‘.
To let us know you are a young carer, please give us a call on 01258 880210 or send an email to miltonabbassurgery@nhs.net for the attention of Kelly.
We would also encourage you to let your school know that you are a young carer. You might not want to do this. But if they don’t know about your situation, it will be difficult for teachers to understand if you are missing lessons, struggling to keep up in class or not doing your homework. Letting your school know helps teachers understand your situation and provide extra support.
Specific support available to you:
- NHS – Your Rights as a Young Carer
- MYTIME Young Carers
- Help & Care Dorset Carers Service
- BRIDGIT
- Leonardo Trust
- Honeypot
- Sibs
- Kooth
- Treads Blandford
Remember, you are not alone in this – it’s okay to ask for help.