A brighter future for young carers

The recently published Carers Strategy: Second National Action Plan 2014 – 2016 emphasises the importance of giving young carers more support to enable them to lead fulfilling and productive lives.

There are over 166,000 young carers aged 5-17 in England – an increase of over 26,000 since 2001. The majority provide 1 to 19 hours care but over 8% provide 50 or more hours of care a week. Many struggle with the demands of being a carer as well as leading a productive life – which has a negative impact on different aspects of their lives, such as education, social interaction and the ability to create a bright future for themselves.

Part of the strategy is to ensure there are provisions to support young carers in preparing for adulthood; it also reiterates that “Children and young people will be protected from inappropriate caring and have the support they need to learn, develop and thrive and to enjoy positive childhoods”.

self management uk, in partnership with Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council Young Carers Project, has developed an innovative peer-to-peer programme, which addresses the health and social needs of young carers. Over 40 young people have been involved so far, with six training as young facilitators to deliver voluntarily in their own community. The programme started in 2013, with encouraging and positive results for young carers, their families and communities.

The aim of the course is to ensure that young carers are equipped with the knowledge, understanding, skills and confidence to be able to self-manage their lives effectively on a day-to-day basis. It enables participants to:

• better manage their own physical and emotional health and wellbeing
• recognise their own needs
• strengthen support networks
• develop self-management skills – with particular focus on communication skills, dealing with difficult emotions and looking after health
• increase their self-confidence and self-awareness

Lucy Moore, contract manager for self management uk, said: “Being a young carer can be extremely demanding. Support is absolutely crucial to help these young people to manage and improve their lives and wellbeing. Our programme supports the transition of young people and encourages them to think about their future and use the skills and knowledge they learn in their day-to-day lives. We work closely with carers centres and organisations to ensure that young carers are at the heart of everything we do.”

Carolynn Brierley, young carers project manager at Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, said: “Working with self management uk has enabled our service to develop and provide a valuable resource for young carers to consider their future. The course gives young people, who are juggling study, responsibilities at home and trying to have a social life, a space in their lives to reflect. I have been impressed talking to the young carers after the course on how much they have used what they learned in their lives and how the young people training as peer tutors have risen to and enjoyed the challenge.”

Views from a young carer

Paige Bradley, 19, Tameside and Glossop, carer for her mother and her daughter

“I am a young carer for my mother, who has lived with severe depression for many years, and more recently for my baby daughter as well. Being a young full-time mother has never held me back from achieving life’s goals.

I was referred to self management uk‘s Staying Positive course in 2013. The course was delivered in partnership with the Young Carers Centre Tameside, in Hyde. I was part of a Young Carers group - we were asked to give this course a go and I’m so glad I did. It has made a huge difference to my life; it taught me how to better manage my time and allow myself to have some time to relax and just be a kid again.

I have learnt so many new skills and I would recommend this course to all Young Carers. Being a young carer can be very stressful. By managing my time better, I now have more of a social life, more time for myself and I am just able to get out a lot more and enjoy myself.

My mum always says: ‘Paige, I’ve noticed such a positive difference in you since you’ve attended the course. You are now back to being the outgoing and down to earth Paige you always were.’

All the new skills I gained from attending the course, such as time management and relaxation techniques have helped me to manage being a young mum and still look after my own mum and fulfil the young caring role to the best of my ability. It is great to be able to spend time with others who are in a similar situation to me. I don’t feel so alone now.

To any young carers out there who may find it difficult to cope, my message to you would be to just stick to it, and it always works out in the end. If you have the opportunity to attend a self management uk course, do it; you won’t regret it.”

ENDS.

Notes to Editors:

1. For further information, please email [email protected]
2. self management uk is a charitable organisation, and the leading provider of self- management education, training and support in England. We have over 12 years’ experience working with patients, carers, healthcare professionals, clinicians and commissioners. We work with patients and carers to help them manage the day-to-day impact of living with a long-term condition, or caring for those with long-term conditions. We collaborate with commissioners and clinicians to improve outcomes for patients with any long-term health conditions, including diabetes, arthritis, and COPD.