Spurgeons Young Carers
We support children and young people who care for a family member with an illness or disability.
We support children and young people who have caring responsibilities to overcome the challenges they face.
Young carers have to grow up too fast – facing responsibilities beyond their years, they have little time for themselves or for socialising.
Spurgeons supports over 1,000 young people aged 8 to 18 through our Young Carers services in Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
We work in partnership with other agencies to support young carers individually and within their families in a range of ways, including:
- Time out through groups, trips and activities
- Information, advice and practical help for the family
- Educational, training and homework support
- One-to-one tailored support
- Transition support
- Mentoring support.
What is a Young Carer?
A young carer is someone who helps care for someone within their family.
That person may be a parent, sibling, grandparent or other relative affected by:
Young carers are:
-under 18
-help to care for someone at home who has an illness, disability or is not able to look after themselves
-help in a way that an adult would normally do, such as with washing and cooking
Some things that young carers do:
- lots of housework, cooking or shopping
- help someone to wash or dress
- look after a brother or sister with physical or learning disabilities
- support a parent or family member who has a drugs or alcohol problem
- help a family member to take their medication
- provide support to a family member with a mental health illness
- constantly keep an eye on the family member who needs help.
All of this is a lot for a young person to cope with on top of school work and trying to spend time with friends. But if you are a young carer, help is at hand. At Spurgeons we work with hundreds of young carers and we are here to support and help.
If you are a Young Carer, or have identified a Young Carer, please fill in the referral form.
Our locations
The Spurgeons team provide young carers services in Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
Birmingham Young Carers
Wolverhampton Young Carers
Find our young carers services on social:
Support for families
Spurgeons delivers a variety of support to Young Carers in the West Midlands
What is a young carer?
A young carer is someone who helps care for someone within their family.
Information for parents
Information for those with a son, daughter or young person in the household who is helping to care for a family member.
Information for professionals
Guidance around identifying young carers and some of the indicators to look out for.
Further Information
Support services and useful links for young carers and their families
Volunteering
Volunteering can be a great way to support young people with caring responsibilities as well as the local community.
News and Blogs
Read the latest news and blogs from Spurgeons Young Carers services
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