A young carer is anyone under the age of 18 who helps to support someone. This can be a relative, friend or neighbour and they don't have to live in the same home. They can be older or younger than the young carer. They might need extra support due to an illness, disability, mental health condition, because they are elderly, neurodivergent, due to issues with drugs or alcohol, or because they need help to communicate.
The young carer does not have to be the primary carer - someone else may be responsible for providing most of the support. There is no minimum caring requirement - it doesn't matter how much or how little you do. Young carers can look after more than one person. Young carers can have health issues of their own and can also be cared for. Some start caring at a very young age and don't know they are carers. Some become carers overnight, perhaps due to a diagnosis or accident.
Young carers can help support the cared for person in lots of different ways. This might include:
Practical things, like cooking, cleaning and shopping.
Physical care, like helping someone out of bed.
Emotional support, including talking to someone when they are having a bad day, looking out for changes in behaviour, or keeping someone company.
Personal care, such as helping someone dress or wash.
Budgeting and managing money for the family.
Collecting prescriptions at the pharmacy or GP surgery.
Helping someone communicate. This might mean translating for someone due to a language barrier, helping someone read or write due to a literacy barrier, or signing for someone.
Helping to give medicine.
Looking after brothers and sisters. For example, taking your siblings to school or nursery, helping them dress, or taking care of them while the cared for person rests.
These are just some examples, there are so many ways young carers can provide support.
The Scottish Government estimates that there are around 29,000 young carers in Scotland. We believe there are between 3,000 - 5,000 young carers in South Ayrshire.
But not all of them are claiming the support they're entitled to. So, if you recognise yourself as possibly being a young carer, find out how below how you can access a range of supports and help with your wellbeing.
The Young Carers Strategy was approved by the Integration Joint Board on 17th February 2021, and covers the period 2021 to 2026. In this Strategy we explain what it means to be a young carer and outline our plans to raise awareness, recognise and support young carers over the next five years.
