March 16th 2022
Taking Action on Isolation
- It is Young Carers Action Day on 16th March.
- 1 in 12 children and young adults becomes a Young Carer at some point during childhood.
- There are countless young, unsung heroes in your neighbourhood who are inspiring, kind and selfless.
Young Carers Action Day is an annual event, organised each year by Carers Trust to raise awareness of children and young adult carers.
It highlights the pressures and challenges they face, together with the incredible contribution they make by caring for their family members and friends. Here are some examples of what they undertake as young carers:
- Talking to a distressed parent / sibling and helping them communicate;
- Helping parents / sibling get out of bed and dressed;
- Collecting prescriptions and administering medication;
- Managing the family budget;
- Cooking, housework and shopping – to name but a few.
It is also a day to call for more action to support young and young adult carers and give them the extra bit of help they need to live full and healthy lives.
We spoke to young carers and young adult carers to ask them what they thought should be the theme for Young Carers Action Day 2022, and this was to be all about securing action to help address the isolation they experience as young and young adult carers.
They highlighted how having the right support in place – such as regular short breaks from caring – can be really beneficial, giving them a better chance of succeeding in all parts of their lives.
We also want to celebrate all the good practice taking place to provide access to support and services that helps prevent isolation among young and young adult carers.
Here in North Wales we give recognition to our amazing young carers with the provision of a Young Carers ID card! An ID card so that teachers, health professionals and retailers know their vital and imperative responsibilities.
The Young Carers ID card was developed to identify and raise awareness of young carers as well as provide recognition of their important and often, invisible, caring role. The national initiative, supported by Carers Trust Wales is to help young carers, 18 and under, get access to the right support at the right time; so for example if a young carer was identified using their ID by a teacher, doctor or pharmacist, they would know how best to support that young carer.
If you are a young carer or young adult carer, or know of someone who is, for further information on how to obtain your Young Carers ID card or to find young carer services near you, please visit
www.northwalescollaborative.wales
www.carers.org
Example of the Young Carers ID Card
