YOUNG CARERS
Identifying and Supporting Young Carers
around 40 hours a week, this figure is put into alarming perspective. The statistics also show a massive 85% of all young carers provide 1-19 hours of care a week to a disabled, frail or chronically ill person.
The Children’s Society and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers (PRTC) produced a guide in 2002 aimed at all agencies that have contact with
had educational difficulties because of their caring role. • 29% cared for a relative with mental health problems. • 63% cared for a relative with physical health problems. • One in five provided intimate care. • One in four had no external support (other than local young carers’ project).
The 2001 Census revealed that 13,000
children are providing more than 50 hours of help to their parents a week
young carers and the people for whom they care. The guide explains young carers may undertake some or all of the following:
• practical tasks such as cooking, housework and shopping; • managing the family budget, collecting benefits and prescriptions; • physical care such as lifting; • personal care such as dressing, washing, helping with toileting needs; • giving medication or physiotherapy; • ensuring safety; • looking after or parenting younger siblings;
• giving emotional support or worrying; • interpreting (either because of a hearing, visual or speech impairment or because English is not the first language of the family). The guide references the recent nationwide study carried out in 1998 by Young Carers Research Group at the University of Loughborough. The group undertook a study of 2,203 young carers and found the following relatively disturbing figures:
• The average age of a young carer was 12. • 86% were of compulsory school age (i.e. 5–15 years old). • 57% were girls; 43% were boys. • 14% were from ethnic minority groups.
• 54% lived in lone parent families. • 58% cared for their mother. • One in three had missed school or
In 1999 the Department of Health
published a document entitled “Caring about Carers: A National Strategy for Carers” which found caring for a member of the family had some drastic effects on the young carer including problems at school, with completing homework and getting qualifications; isolation from other children of the same age and from other family members; lack of time for play, leisure, or sport; conflict between the needs of the person that they are helping and their own needs, leading to feelings of guilt and resentment; and feeling that there is nobody there for them, that professionals do not listen to them. Of course, in order for professionals to help the child he or she needs to be aware of the situation and this often presents the biggest stumbling block for teachers. The PRTC guide quotes one young carer as saying “Helping her is just part of life. I don’t really remember it being any different” which highlights a crucial point – if the child knows no different he or she will be unlikely to seek – or, indeed, believe they are able to seek – help.
This issue of identifying when a young person needs help was highlighted in the Ofted study which surveyed eight council areas across England and found that local authorities are not doing enough to identify children and young people who care for disabled parents and siblings. The report pointed to a lack
enormous efforts to manage their caring responsibilities and maintain full school attendance. However, some may struggle to cope all the time and subsequently their education, physical and mental health may be affected. The study by the Young Carers Research Group at University of
School Management Today • 53
of awareness by professionals, a failure of agencies to work together, and a reluctance by some families to approach councils for help, because they fear their parenting skills will be questioned and their family broken up. Not receiving the help they need can have a serious effect on young people, in terms of education especially. The PRTC says young carers often make
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
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