Caring for Young Carers Campaign
About the campaign
Who: A young carer is someone under 18 who helps look after someone in their family - or a friend - who is ill, disabled or misuses drugs or alcohol.
What: Caring for Young Carers, a Counselling Directory campaign.
Where: UK, nationwide.
When: Young Carers Awareness Day 26 January 2017.
Why: To highlight the struggles young carers deal with and to let young carers know there is support available.
Content
The following content is available for editorial use and reprint with credit to Counselling Directory and link to www.counselling-directory.org.uk where applicable. Please send an email to press@counselling-directory.org.uk to advise of content use.
- Young carers page, featuring information showing what support is available and to educate users that might not know what a young carer goes through.
- A 7-day diary of a young carer, showing what a day in the life of a young carer entails.
- A video interview with a young carer.
Quick content
The following information is available for editorial use with credit to Counselling Directory and link to www.counselling-directory.org.uk where applicable. Please send an email to press@counselling-directory.org.uk to advise of content use.
General information
A young carer is someone under 18 who helps look after someone in their family, or a friend, who is ill, disabled or misuses drugs or alcohol.
Young carer roles involve, but are not limited to:
- Practical tasks, such as cooking, housework and shopping.
- Physical care, such as helping someone out of bed.
- Emotional support, such as talking to someone who is distressed.
- Personal care, such as helping someone dress.
- Managing the family budget and collecting prescriptions.
- Helping to give medicine.
- Helping someone communicate.
- Looking after brothers and sisters.
Quote for editorial use
"I think the biggest thing that carers of any age can do for themselves is learn how to self-care. Whether it's organising a few evenings off a week to indulge in a hobby, a club, or some 'me-time', or talking to someone they trust, it is very important. They can also lean on the support that's available to them. Relying on the support of others can ease the burden off their shoulders", Counselling Directory member Kelly Dynes said.
"Nobody is Superman or Superwoman, and everyone needs help sometimes. Some people don't ask because they feel guilty or embarrassed, and this can lead to them feeling lonely or depressed. However, by asking for help and making sure they are healthy and happy, the carer makes sure they can keep doing their job to the best of their abilities. So there's no need to feel guilty. On top of that, the carer deserves to be happy too", Dynes said.
Additional resources
Counselling Directory will be using #YoungCarersAwarenessDay
"Young Carers Awareness Day organised by Carers Trust aims to raise awareness of the 700,000 or more young carers across the UK who are caring for their sick or disabled mum, dad, brother or sister every day. You can support vital services for young carers by texting YCAD17 £3 (or more) to 70070. Visit www.carers.org/ycad for more details and join in the conversation on twitter using #youngcarersawarenessday @carerstrust
Carers Trust has a safe, online community and website for young carers under 18 at babble.carers.org. Young adult carers over 18 can find support and advice about caring at matter.carers.org"
About Counselling Directory.
Press contact
Amie Sparrow PR Executive e: press@counselling-directory.org.uk w: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/ t: 01276 301 230 m: 07481 742801 (after hours) fb: https://www.facebook.com/CounsellingDirectory tw: https://twitter.com/Counselling_UK
Interviews with young carers and professional counsellors and additional information on this topic is available upon request.
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