YOUNG carers in Warwickshire are being reminded of the support available to them as they prepare to return to school.
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) is offering support to young carers as the new academic year approaches – a time of mixed feelings, due to leaving a parent or relative after spending time with them over the summer holidays.
WCC and Carers Trust support young carers’ mental health. The Young Carer Caring Together Warwickshire (CTW) service supports young carers and those with a caring role.
Young carers themselves and first contact partners such as GPs and school colleagues are being urged to visit the website www.caringtogetherwarwickshire.org.uk or phone the freephone number 0800 197 5544 for information and advice.
Young Carer CTW also has targeted support that can help with the unique aspects of a young carer’s life as well as family support, including:
- Information and advice about every aspect of caring for young people
- Groups and activities to meet other young carers
- Advice with education aspirations and next steps
- One-to-one emotional support in a safe place about individual needs
- Help to access support to look after health and wellbeing
WCC’s Adult Social Care and Health spokeswoman Coun Margaret Bell said: “For young carers the Autumn term is filled with excitement but also apprehension as they return to the five-day school timetable. Many young carers will have looked after parents, relatives and younger siblings and helped with everyday tasks.
“It’s important that we all look out for young carers and refer them to help from dedicated services such as Young Carers Caring Together Warwickshire, to provide wellbeing advice and support.”
Online applications such as www.Kooth.com are a great way for young carers to share their thoughts and feelings anonymously with experts within the mental health sector.
Kooth also provides the user with advice and information on a number of worries and issues, along with a daily journal which allows the young carer to track their feelings or emotions and reflect on how they’re doing. A live chat allows the young person to talk directly to one of the team.
Claire Dale, Chief Executive Officer at Carers Trust, said: “Young carers have said that access to improved support in schools, access to breaks from their caring role, easy access to counselling and financial support would help to make them feel less overwhelmed, healthier, and happier.
“While we aim to support young carers with these issues every day, we continue to shout on behalf of young people with care responsibilities and offer them more opportunities to take some time for themselves.”
Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/carers for information and advice about all carers.
Visit www.caringtogetherwarwickshire.org.uk for information about Young Carers Warwickshire Caring Together.
Visit https://tinyurl.com/2wwsy24w to learn more about young carers and free online Young Carers Aware Training.
