Young Carers

A young carer is someone under the age of 18 who helps look after a relative. This may be due to them having a disability, an illness, a mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem.

You may look after a parent or provide care for another family member like a grandparent or sibling. This could include some personal care but also cooking, cleaning and other jobs around the house as well as emotional support.

You might have provided care for years and didn’t realise you are a young carer. Or you might have to suddenly become a carer because of a change in your situation at home.

It is important that you have some choice in what and how much care you provide. It is important to ensure you still get the same opportunities to attend school, complete homework and enjoy time socialising with friends or family. Caring for someone else can feel like a lot, but it is equally important to look after your own wellbeing.

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Our Experiences

By young people, for young people

"The young carers organisation helped me to meet new people and gave me the opportunities to go to new and interesting experiences like rock climbing and making a bridge.

"It was nice to be me sometimes and get to spend time with other people who understood."

Ali, Age 13

(Some names changed to protect people's identities)

All You Need to Know

If you are a young carer, you will be entitled to a needs assessment by the local authority.

This needs assessment will look at the impact of your caring role on your own health, education and social life. It will help you and your family decide whether you should continue to provide care and what support you all need.

The assessment can be requested by contacting Norfolk County Council on 0344 800 8020.

Carers Matter Norfolk provide the countywide service supporting unpaid carers. They have lots of useful information on their website and an app for young people. Young carers and their families can receive one-to-one or group support to help them make choices about their caring and get the support they need.

If you want to talk to one of the team you can call them on 0800 083 1148.
As a young carer, you might find yourself in an emergency situation related to your caring role and not know what to do.

You can use the emergency planning template below to plan ahead for emergency situations that might happen. These might include you getting stuck at school or college and being unable to get home to provide care, or the person you care for having a medical emergency.

The plan will help you think about how you would manage the situation and who might be able to help you, so that you don't panic when it happens.

Emergency planning template
Norfolk Healthy Child Programme is committed to identifying and supporting young carers. We were awarded with the carer friendly tick award in February 2020. As part of this an agreement was drawn up with young carers.

The Healthy Child Programme delivers public health services (health visiting, school nursing) to all children & young people from 0 to 19 years of age (up to 25 for those with an additional or complex need) in Norfolk.

You can contact the Healthy Child Programme by calling Just One Number on 0300 300 0123.

Who Can Help?

You can talk to your parents or carers, or a trusted adult within your school or setting, or any trusted friend.

If you live in Norfolk:

If you're 11-19 you can text ChatHealth on 07480 635060 for anonymous and confidential advice from a health professional. ChatHealth is available Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm.

You can also contact the Norfolk Healthy Child Programme by calling Just One Number on 0300 300 0123. Our opening hours are 8am-6pm Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays) and 9am-1pm on Saturdays.

If you live in Waveney:

You can call the Suffolk School Nursing service on 0345 607 8866 or email childrenshealth@suffolk.gov.uk.

Carers Matter Norfolk provide the countywide service supporting unpaid carers. They have lots of useful information on their website and an app for young people. Young carers and their families can receive one-to-one or group support to help them make choices about their caring and get the support they need. If you want to talk to one of the team you can call them on 0800 083 1148.

Kooth offers online counselling, advice and emotional well-being support 7 days a week until 10pm.

Useful Articles and Guidance

Health for teens - what is a young carer?

Information for young carers, the impact of being a young carer and how you can find help.

Carers voice - carers identity passport

Carers Voice have co-produced a Carers Identity Passport, to ensure Carers are recognised in healthcare settings and can get the help and support they require.