Young Carers

Who is a young carer?

In the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Young Carers are children and young people aged 19 years and under who provide care and support for someone in their family who is ill, has a disability, or mental health problems or who may be misusing alcohol or drugs.  This could be your mum or dad, brother or sister or your grandparent.

What are you doing?

You might be helping to look after your younger brothers or sisters, doing all or most of the household chores, helping someone to get dressed or to move around, giving someone their medication or even keeping a check that someone is safe at home and cheering them up if they feel down. 

"My little brother has autism.  I think he's great but sometimes I want to have some time to myself."

"I am the only one who's around when my dad gets depressed.  If I don't stay in for him who will make sure he's okay?"

We understand that life can sometimes be difficult for a Young Carer.  Having to do all of these extra tasks might be affecting how you get on at school, the time you have available to go out with your friends, your own health and might make you feel as if you are totally on your own and no one else understands what is happening.

What you can do!

There are people around who know what life is like for young carers and who can offer you some support.

The Princess Royal Trust Carers Service has a Young Carers group that works with young people living in Maidenhead, Windsor and Ascot.  You could:

• meet other young people who know what it's like
• come along to the regular young carers drop-ins' 
• find help and advice on how to cope
• go on fun activities or breaks
• get more help for your family

If you think you are a Young Carer and would like to talk to someone contact them at

Highview, 6 North Road, Maidenhead SL6 1PL on Tel: (01628) 777217

or you can email them at youngcarers_rbwm@hotmail.co.uk

You can find out lots more information about young carers at the following websites:

Princess Royal Trust for Carers
http://www.youngcarers.net  

As well as information about schools and education they have a chat room and moderated message board service that you might like to try.

The Children's Society
http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk   

Search under the Kids Zone for young carers.

At School

If you check on First Class on you computer at school to make it easier there should be a link to the http://www.youngcarers.net  website

Wamster – 'for young people by young people….'

More advice and information about activities, transport and help for young people aged 13-19 is available on the new website set up to give you a voice.  See www.wamster.org.uk  or Email Community & Youth Services at wamster@rbwm.gov.uk

What to do in an Emergency

This can happen to all of us and it's always good to know what to do in an emergency situation.  The most important thing is to keep yourself safe – if you are not safe you cannot help anyone else!

Next, if in doubt, call 999 for an ambulance, police or fire service.  If you have a good reason for thinking there is an emergency it's okay to call 999, even if things turn out to be not as bad as you thought.

If you think there is an emergency that might happen to a member of your family it's good to talk to them in advance making plans for what could be done if it actually occurs.