Christmas and New Year information
Find out all the information you need about our services over the Christmas and New Year period. This includes our opening times, waste collection days, and how to contact us out of hours.
Support for young carers
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.
A young carer is someone who does what an adult would usually do, like:
- staying in the house a lot to be there for the person who needs to be cared for
- helping them to get up, get washed or dressed, or helping with using the loo
- doing lots of the household chores like shopping, cleaning and cooking
- looking after younger brothers and sisters
- providing emotional support or a shoulder to cry on
Types of support
There are a range of services that help, advise and support carers. The support we can arrange for carers includes:
- information and advice
- emotional support and peer support
- preventative services which help you maintain or improve your wellbeing
- help to plan what would happen in an emergency that meant you were unable to look after the person you care for
- extra help for the person you care for
- breaks which offer you time away from caring
- digital technology to support both the cared for person and you in your caring role
- support to help you care and to maintain your health and wellbeing, using a carer’s budget if you prefer
- Occupational Therapy assessment and support including; moving and handling assessment and advice, provision of equipment and adaptations
- Access to 24/7 support and online resources through mobilise services - Join the Mobilise Hub
- newsletters – sign up to your local carers organisation newsletter for the latest information and advice
- benefits advice and support
Young carers assessment
Young carers have the right to a young carers assessment. This looks at the amount of caring you do and what needs to change to make sure you have the same opportunities as other young people. The assessment is different from the one adult carers have. It'll decide what kind of help you and your family might need.
If you or your parents request it, a trained professional must visit to carry out a young carer's assessment.
You can find out more about how to get help as a young carer on the Family Information website
How to get a young carers assessment
Contact your local carers organisation:
Other places to seek help
Even if you feel you do not need help at the moment, you may want to know what kind of things might be available for you if you did. If we cannot help, we will put you in touch with someone who can.
To find out more, you can:
- contact your local Adult Social Care team
- speak to your GP or your Social Worker, Occupational Therapist or Health and Wellbeing Coach (if you have one)
- find online support for unpaid carers at Mobilise