Annual review- Young carers
This year has been about giving young carers the chance to lobby for the support they need. Thousands of children across the country miss out on vital educational and recreational opportunities because they care for disabled or chronically ill adults or younger siblings. A particular success was that our national practise informed the production of a new publication: “Key Principles of Practice, Guidance for Professionals”. Funded by the Department for Education and Skills, this will help professionals to better support families and reduce the impact of the responsibility on young carers.
Other highlights 2006/07
- We organised the Young Carers Festival 2006 with the YMCA Fairthorne Manor to bring together 1,500 young carers from across the UK. It achieved two things: gave these children a break from caring responsibilities and gave them the opportunity to tell schools across the UK what support they need.
- We took a group of young carers from the UK to work alongside young carers in Nairobi where they shared experiences and to contribute to a conference where they made recommendations to professionals.
- Funding from the Department of Health was used to study the particular needs of refugee families where illness or disability impacts on the children.
Going forward, our national Include project will train professionals to understand the needs of young carers and to create the first national Young Carers Forum – a group who will meet regularly to inform delivery of our practice.
Working with children and young people