Young carers feel supported in their caring role

Young carers in Staffordshire say they feel supported and know who to speak to if they are struggling with their caring role.

Members of Staffordshire County Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee have heard the thoughts of young carers aged between 8-15, to ensure they are getting the services that they need to support them.

Young carers in Staffordshire are supported by the county council through N-Compass, which provides advice and guidance on how to find support, makes referrals, and offers preventative support for carers of all ages.

They told officers they feel well supported by the services on offer, know who they talk to when they need help, and value the support given to them by friends, teachers and contacts from the young carers service.

They also highlighted how being a young carer isn’t easy, and how some support avenues available to them could be better highlighted.

There are over 2,000 people aged under 18 years of age who are 'young carers' in Staffordshire. Young carers provide care, assistance or support to another family member who is disabled, physically or mentally ill, or has a substance misuse problem.

Staffordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People Mark Sutton said: “Young carers are under a lot of pressure – not only are they coping with the usual things that come with being a young person, they are also having to care for a loved one.

“This is why it’s so important we ensure the support we have in place for them is the right support, that they can speak to someone whenever they need to, and can also have some respite from their caring responsibilities.

“Members of our scrutiny committee were overwhelmed by the resilience and confidence of the young carers they met, and were grateful that they spoke so openly and frankly about their experiences. It is this sort of interaction that is important if we are to create positive change and ensure we are providing the right support at the right time to all young carers in Staffordshire.”