Charity to highlight challenges of young carers
SHOPPERS will be able to learn about the often hidden world of children who care for sick or disabled parents or siblings later this month.
Children’s charity Barnardo’s Cymru will be highlighting the challenges facing our youngest carers by talking to shoppers at Sainsbury’s in Flint as part of Carer’s Week (June 12-18).
The aim is to raise awareness of the large number of children and young people who have significant caring responsibilities at home which can impact on their own health and wellbeing, their education and social lives.
This year Barnardo’s Cymru is marking the 21st anniversary of its Flintshire Young Carers service which has supported hundreds of such children through counselling, opportunity to meet other young carers and enjoy social events and outings as a break from their usual responsibilities.
Catherine Carr, the charity’s children’s services manager for Flint, said it is important that both professionals and the public are aware of the burden many young people carry.
“Whether it is someone working with a family in an official capacity or a relative or neighbour, it’s important we are all aware of the toll that caring can take on children.
“Barnardo’s Cymru gives them chance to talk through their feelings, offers them practical support and provides them with opportunities to spend time doing the usual childhood things away from their daily cares.
“We are proud of our long history supporting young carers in Flintshire but we need people to be able to recognise them in the community and refer them to us for help,” she said.
Young carers may have to cook and clean for the family, support a parent through physical or mental illness or take responsibility for siblings when a parent is struggling to cope.
They can easily feel isolated, different from their friends and find it difficult to keep up with schoolwork.
Anyone who knows a young carer who they feel could benefit from the Barnardo’s Cymru support service can contact Catherine Carr on 01352 755422.