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Young carers
Young carers are children and young people under 18 who look after someone in their family who has an illness, disability, or is affected by mental ill-health or substance misuse. They take on tasks that would normally be done by an adult.
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 support young carers
Usually children and young people don’t want to stop caring, but would welcome some extra help with being a carer. We give young carers extra support to make sure their caring role doesn't stop them from learning, and help them balance their caring with their rights to be a child or young person.
Our Barnsley Young Carers Service, provided by Barnardo's, is based at Priory Campus. They work directly with children and young people who have a caring role in their family.
By providing the right help, Barnardo’s make sure that the young person doesn’t become responsible for inappropriate caring roles.
How to get support if you're a young carer
If you’re a young carer and you need support, you can get in touch with Barnsley Young Carers Service by calling 01226 770619.
What Barnsley Young Carers Service does
Barnsley Young Carers Service works with young carers across the Barnsley area, offering advice, advocacy, and support. If you’re a young carer, you can access the service on a one-to-one basis or through a support group.
Barnardo’s will give you a break from caring and a chance to socialise with other young carers who understand your situation. They'll also make sure you have a voice, so you can influence how their service is offered and help develop other services across the Children, Young People and Families Trust that better meet your needs and those of other young carers in the borough.
By working closely with young carers, Barnardo's gains a clear picture of your needs. They can then raise awareness of these to agencies and the wider community to help support them.
Barnardo's also provide guidance to professionals and work with our children's social care service, looking at when caring is becoming too much for the young carer and when their family may need extra support.
Sibling support
Barnardo’s also provides a sibling support service at Priory Campus, providing support to brothers and sisters of children with disabilities who live in the Barnsley area.
For more information
For more information about Barnsley Young Carers Service or sibling support services, visit the Barnsley Young Carers Service website or call them on 01226 770619.