Are you under 18 and help to look after a friend or family member who has an illness, disability, mental health condition or addiction? If so, you could be a young carer.
A young carer is someone under 18 who cares for a friend or family member who cannot cope without their support.
A young carer might help with:
- practical tasks like cooking, housework and shopping
- physical care, such as helping someone out of bed
- emotional support, including talking to someone who is distressed
- personal care, such as helping someone dress
- managing the family budget
- collecting prescriptions and helping to give medicine
- helping someone communicate, such as using sign language or interpreting
- looking after brothers and sisters.
Those are just examples – every young carer and their situation is unique.
Getting help for young carers
Looking after someone can take up a lot of your time. It’s normal to find things difficult. You’re not alone and you can get help.
Contact us
01992 658469
Monday–Thursday: 9am–5.30pm
Friday: 9am–4.30pm
If you need urgent help outside these times, call 0300 123 4043.
Or email youngcarers@hertfordshire.gov.uk if it’s not urgent.
For further Young carers information and support Click Here
Practical Help
- Advice and support for young carers (Children’s Society) – they can help you understand your rights as a young carer, introduce you to other young carers, advise you on different ways into education and employment.
- Young Carers (Carers Trust) – they advise young carers and young adult carers about support available and their rights.
- Financial support for young carers (MoneyHelper) – find out about the benefits available to you.
- Services for Young People – provides youth work projects, careers education, work-related learning and wider support.
- Booklet for young carers (me-we.eu) – developed by young carers to give information about looking after yourself, growing up and thinking about your future.
Emotional Support
HertsHub – about mental health, including stress, anxiety and grief.
Young carers (Herts Community NHS Trust) – young carers health journal for information on services and how to speak to schools and GPs about your caring role.
School advice for young carers (Children’s Society) – advice on talking to school about schoolwork, homework, attendance and bullying.
