Fears young carers in Suffolk struggle to take breaks from their responsibilities
It comes as a survey from the Carers Trust has found more than half those who look after a loved one aren't getting respite
There are fears young carers in Suffolk are struggling to take breaks from their responsibilities.
It comes as a survey from the Carers Trust has found more than half those who look after a loved one aren't getting respite - while 72 percent say they miss out on school holidays.
" It is a relationship with a lot of love"
We spoke to Jess Searle from Suffolk Family Carers. She explained there are over 65,000 identified carers living in Suffolk and thousands more looking after an ill, older or disabled loved one.
"Many young people are born into this role, but it is their normal, they don't know any difference and it is a relationship with a lot of love. Young careers very often have a huge love for the person.
"Outsiders might be saying that must be really difficult and stressful for you, but for them, they're not necessarily seeing it. They don't know any different.
"It's usually perceived as difficult by others more so probably than the actual young person themselves."
"Young people with caring responsibilities become the expert in that role"
Emily Meadows, also from Suffolk Family Carers, continued that because these young people have been in the role for a prolonged period of time, they know exactly what the person they're caring for needs.
Emily explained that due to this, each carer will need an individual approach taken to identify what steps can be taken to help them the best,
"What they need are systems and services that work to support them, that understand they're the expert and also then to provide support with those caring responsibilities.
"We do also see that those responsibilities can have an impact on a young person's education and we see them missing out on opportunities outside of school as well activities during school holidays."
We asked Emily about the support Suffolk Family carers provides to young people in the county.
She emphasised the importance of communication.
"Having people to talk to, whether that is us as a charity outside of school or in school, whether that is a young carer, lead within their setting to talk to or a trusted adult in other Community group - It's important that there is this community awareness of the impact on young carers so that we can work as a community to support these young people and to make sure they make the most of the opportunities they have in front of them."
This is something that has been supported by a new survey by Carers Trust for Young Carers Action Day.
The survey
- Almost a quarter of young carers say no one else can provide the care they do
- Two-fifths worry too much about the person they care for to take a break.
- 72% miss out on the school holidays, nearly half miss out on friendships and almost one in five say they’re missing time out of their education.
Young Carers Action Day is an annual campaign organised by Carers Trust with its network of local carer organisations. It aims to highlight the challenges faced by the UK’s one million young carers (under-18s) and the hundreds of thousands of young adult carers aged 18-25. At least 16,000 young carers in the UK, some just five years old, are caring for 50 hours a week or more, according to the most recent census data.
This year the theme of Young Carers Action Day is “Give Me A Break”. It was chosen by young carers themselves to show their need for respite and to be given a chance in life by schools, employers, and politicians.
Carers Trust is calling on the UK Government to ensure all young carers have access to a properly funded break from their caring role. Politicians, education providers, employers and other organisations are also being asked to sign the Young Carers Covenant, a pledge to help young carers improve their lives.
Kirsty McHugh, Carers Trust’s CEO, said:
“Across the UK, children as young as five are spending huge amounts of their free time caring for others. We know this can have a devastating effect on their education, well-being and future prospects. It is simply wrong that, as a country, we are asking so many children to take on so much.
“Those in power need to give young carers a break. If we want young people to thrive, as well as those for which they care, we need to give these young people the chance to take time out from their caring duties.”
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