Young carers raise awareness of challenges they and others face
Two out of three young carers in West Sussex say their caring role has increased since the start of the pandemic, a new survey has shown.
Young carers also say they are more worried about the future because of coronavirus, according to work carried out by the Young Carers Family Service.
For Young Carers Action Day on Tuesday (March 16), two registered young carers from West Sussex have shared their experiences to raise awareness of the extra challenges they and others like them face.
Emily, from Pagham, is 17 and has caring responsibilities for both her younger sister and father.
Her sister has a life-limiting condition which means she’s unable to walk or speak, and her father has a rare, longterm condition which affects his vision and can make him extremely tired.
It means Emily has taken on many extra responsibilities from a young age. She said: “Now that I can drive I often do the food shop, I help look after my sister by playing and reading with her and I help to keep her calm. Mum is a nurse and sometimes I cook dinner for the family when she’s working. I clean quite a lot as well, it really depends on the day how dad is because he gets really bad days.”
Emily is studying for her A levels and says learning from home has been especially tough.
But she is proud of the huge help she gives to her sister and father, adding: “I think everyone who cares for others has hard days but you have to just carry on and overcome it.”
Luke, from Chichester, has just turned 16 and cares for his mum, who has depression. He said the start of the first lockdown was particularly tough but his network of support helped them both.
He is in Year 11 studying his GCSES. He speaks openly about his own struggles and actively helps other students in his school with their mental health.
Like Emily, he is supported by West Sussex County Council’s Young Carers Family Service and he says speaking to other carers and his ‘amazing’ support worker Steph is a huge help.
He added: “I’m a mental health ambassador at my school, I’m more confident as a person and I’m proud of being a young carer and I’m proud of the way I look after my mum. Even though it’s hard and some days can be a struggle, I’m glad I can talk about it and maybe help other people who are going through the same thing.”
For information on referring someone to the Young Carers Family Service visit www.westsussex.gov. uk/education-children-andfamilies/young-carers