Young carers

If you are in immediate danger or know another child who is then please call 999

What is a young carer?

A young carer is a young person who gives regular care and emotional support to a parent, brother, or sister, or someone else in the family.

There are many reasons why young people do this caring:

• The person they care for may have physical disabilities
• The person could have learning difficulties
• The person may have mental health problems, for example being depressed
• The person may have a problem with alcohol or drugs.

Being a young carer isn't all about hard work. Many young carers say how proud they are to be carers. However, sometimes it can be hard for a young carer to find time to relax, away from home

What you can do

Barnet Young Carers project has friendly, helpful workers who are there to offer support and advice to any young carers in Barnet, aged from 5 to 18 years old.

You can find out more on their website. 

Clubs and outings

Barnet Young Carers run two free clubs, one for younger children, and one for teenagers, and they can arrange transport in a mini-bus to help you get to the clubs.

At the clubs, there are things to do, or you can just hang out and talk to the workers, or other young people. They also run trips out for the family, and day breaks. Young people can confidentially talk to a trained counsellor during BYCAS club days/nights.

School support

Barnet Young Carers has a schools worker who gives support in some schools in Barnet.

Sometimes it can be hard at school, especially if no-one knows that you are a carer. If you have problems with getting homework done, or you are being bullied, or even if you feel very lonely, it can help to talk to a teacher that you trust, or ask to speak to the school worker.