Young carers

Young carers are children or young people under 18 who help to care for someone in their family affected by illness, disability, mental health difficulties or substance misuse. Young carers often take on practical, physical or emotional responsibilities that can impact on their wellbeing, education, friendships and opportunities.

What young carers do

General helping around the house doesn't mean that you're a young carer. Young carers do much more, including some or all of the following:

• practical tasks, such as cooking, housework and shopping

• physical care, such as lifting, helping a parent on stairs, or with physiotherapy

• personal care, such as dressing, washing, helping with toileting needs

• managing the family budget, going for benefits and collecting prescriptions

• giving medication

• looking after or ‘parenting’ younger brothers or sisters

• providing emotional support

• interpreting due to a hearing or speech issue, or because English is not the family’s first language

Some young carers undertake high levels of care, others carry out low levels of care often. Either can impact heavily on a child or young person.

How we can help

The Barnsley Young Carers and Sibling Support Service is here to ensure that no child carries caring responsibilities alone. We provide information, advice and support to help young carers balance their caring role with their right to be a child, enjoy education, spend time with friends and achieve their potential.

Every young carer is different, which is why we offer a range of support based on individual needs.

Our universal support offer to all young carers includes information, advice and practical resources without ongoing intervention. This may include general information and signposting, wellbeing resources, access to activities and events and access to support directories and self-help resources.

If a young carer needs further support there are a range of other options available.

Referrals to the service

Referrals to the service can be made by:

• schools and colleges

• health professionals

• social care practitioners

• Targeted Early Help practitioners

• voluntary and community organisations

• parents and carers

• young people themselves

Make a referral

If you're concerned that a child or young person may have caring responsibilities, or if you think you may be a young carer yourself, we'd like to hear from you.

Complete our young carers referral form or contact Barnsley Young Carers and Sibling Support Service on 01226 772423 for further advice and guidance. 

We ask all partners to ensure referrals include comprehensive information about the young person’s caring responsibilities, presenting needs, and any current agency involvement to support timely screening and allocation.

What happens next

Once a referral is made by a professional, family member, parent/carer or young person, Children's Social Care will complete an initial safeguarding check. Our team will then contact the family within two working days to complete a screening conversation. Together, we'll decide the most appropriate level of support and provide that support through our universal offer, group activities, one-to-one intervention or Targeted Early Help support.

Support for schools and professionals

We work closely with schools and professionals across Barnsley to identify and support young carers as early as possible as this helps young carers achieve better educational, wellbeing and life outcomes. Our offer includes:

• young carers awareness training

• professional consultation and advice

• young carers toolkit resources

• referral pathway support

• attendance and wellbeing advice

Contact us for further information and advice.

Useful websites

• Barnardo's

• Young Minds

• Carers Trust