A young carer is someone under 18 years of age who provides care or support to a family member, including siblings, or a friend, who could not manage without their help. This could be due to illness, disability or age, and caring can involve physical or emotional support.
Young Carers Action Day
Taking place on Tuesday 16 March, this is a day to highlight and empower young carers and amplify their voices. This year is about protecting young carers futures and making sure that all young and young adult carers get the support they need to go after their dreams.
The day will highlight the incredible skills they have developed through being a carer – such as resilience, negotiation, time management and empathy. These skills are needed and highly sought after in further education and employment.
Care for the Carers are running free activities for young carers in East Sussex to join and have fun with other young carers.
- Get creative with Young Carers photography
Take part in fun photography sessions where you can take photos and learn new photography skills, working with local photographer, John Cole.
The first session starts on Tuesday 6th April, then three further sessions on Friday 9th April, Tuesday 13th April and Friday 16th April. 11am-1pm on Zoom. For young carers aged 11-17 years.
- Have fun at the Young Carers Club
Join our Young Carers Club for an evening of fun, games, jokes and laughter. You will get a chance to meet other young carers, find out all about our competition to design a badge for young carers and have a say in the activities and outings that we are planning.
On Thursday 22nd April. 5pm-6.30pm on Zoom. For young carers aged 5-17 years.
- There are also materials you can download such as a campaign pack, skills card, journal and poster.
For more info and to take part, visit the Care for the Carers website.
A new young carers support service
We want to let all young carers know that they are not alone. The Care for the Carers Young Carers Service is available for all young carers aged 5 to 17 years living, attending school or caring for someone in East Sussex. This service provides support to young carers before they reach crisis point and to help their physical and mental wellbeing.
They provide young carers with support and fun activities to get involved with including:
- Information and signposting
- Supporting young carers to access services and activities
- Holiday activities
- Young Carers Club for those aged 5 and upwards (starting in April 2021).
There is also a Young Adult Carers (YAC) service which is for young adults aged from 16 to 25 years old, offering groups, 1-to-1 advice and support and activities.
Counselling is also available with the Teen Talk counselling service for young carers in East Sussex aged 12-18 years. Counselling is currently by taking place by phone.
East Sussex Young Carers, provided by IMAGO, supports Young Carers aged 5-18. Find out about their services on their website.
There are an estimated 21,000 young carers in East Sussex and an estimated 800,000 young carers in the UK, although the actual figure is unknown because so many young carers are hidden.
Read more about young carers, their caring role and the challenges that they face.
