SO WHAT IS A CARER?

An unpaid carer is someone of any age who, without payment, provides care and support to a partner, friend, relative or neighbour who could not manage without their help. This may be due to a physical or learning disability, a mental health condition, long term illness, frailty, addiction or substance misuse.

Anyone can become a carer and often carers do not realise for some time that this is what they are. Many feel they are just doing their duty as a spouse, friend or family member and no more than anyone else in their situation would do. Becoming a carer is not a choice that people make, it is the outcome of a change in circumstance and they simply get on with it.

Young adult carers are aged 18-25 and face very specific difficulties such as transitioning from children to adult services whilst juggling education, employment and caring responsibilities, which can impact the choices they make and how they cope with caring as an adult.

Young carers are children and young people under the age of 18 who are taking on practical and/or emotional caring responsibilities normally expected of an adult, and can include anything from cooking, shopping and housework to administering medication, assisting with personal care such as washing or dressing, interpreting, physical support such as lifting and even emotional support or looking after younger siblings.