Are you under 18 and care for a family member or friend? Do you help them with practical tasks, such as shopping, cooking and cleaning? Or perhaps you give them their medication, while also getting them dressed in the morning? If this sounds like you, then you are a young carer.
Help from the council
Young carers are entitled to get help and support from their local council, to make their life and their caring role easier.
The council’s family team will ask you what support you need and can provide you with:
- an assessment of your needs
- one to one support if you have a high level of need
- advice to support you in your caring role
- information about other supports services and activities to take part in
You can contact the council directly. Or, if you prefer, you can ask someone you know to contact them for you – maybe a friend or relative, a teacher, or your family doctor. Don’t be afraid to ask – it is important to get the help you are entitled to.
Who to contact:
- London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Family Support Service – 020 8753 6600
- Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Early Help for Families Team – 020 7598 4601 or 020 7361 4129 or earlyhelp@rbkc.gov.uk
- Westminster City Council Early Help Service – 020 7641 400
Local organisations
- Family Friends – Family Friends is a charity which supports disadvantaged families via a network of trained volunteers. They provide befriending and mentoring services to families living in deprived areas of West London.
- Insight Young People – Insight supports young people, families and children, who are affected by drugs and alcohol use in Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster.
Other organisations that are able to help
- Carers Trust – The Carers Trust Network supports carers locally through a unique UK-wide network of Network Partners.
- Carers UK – As the UK’s only national membership charity for carers, Carers UK is both a support network and a movement for change.
- The Children’s Society Include Service – The Include service is home to the national young carers initiative supporting children and young people who care for parents, siblings or others who suffer from chronic illness or disability