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‘We’re here for you’ - Young Carers Action Day 2022

Posted on: 10 March 2022

Young Carers Action Day graphicYoung Carers Action Day 2022 is taking place on 16 March 2022. This year’s theme is ‘Taking Action on Isolation’.

A young carer is someone aged 18 and under who cares for a friend or family member who, due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support. Older young carers are also known as young adult carers and are 16-25 years old.

The West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP) are using this day of action to raise public awareness of young carers and young adult carers, the pressures and challenges they face and the incredible contribution they make.

Their message to young carers is ‘We’re here for you’ alongside local carer organisations working with young carers in Bradford District and Craven; Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield, to help combat isolation and provide support, signposting and respite activities.

Many ‘young carers’ are unidentified and won’t be receiving the support they need. Securing support as early as possible can help address the isolation they experience as well as their own health needs.

Whilst many young carers are hidden, they may display signs in school or college that indicate they need support. This could include regular lateness and or low attendance, tiredness and or low attention span or a change in behaviour, becoming aggressive or angry, withdrawn, or quieter than usual. Always considering if someone is a young carer is a good starting point.

WY HCP is committed to listening to their voices. A ‘Young carers support app’ co-produced with young carers is available to download and provides free advice and support for young carers covering topics like mental health, education, emergency planning, carer skills, and relationships.

Let’s cook is a young carers cookbook full of recipes for home-cooked food chosen by local young carers is also available. It features stories, art, and creative writing and cooking skills. The cookbook was coproduced using recipes, stories, art, and creative writing from WY young carers as young as six.

Karen Jackson, a Senior Responsible Officer for the unpaid carers programme and Chief Executive at Locala Community Partnerships said “On Young Carers Action Day we want to let young carers across the region know that we’re here for you and to say thank you for making a difference.  Young carers make great sacrifices every single day to look after a loved one and will never be forgotten. The last two years have been incredibly difficult, and we want them to know that support services are these to offer help”.  

Richard Parry, a Senior Responsible Officer for the unpaid carers programme and Strategic Director Adults and Health at Kirklees Council said “The Partnership is committed to supporting young carers and recognises the challenges they face balancing caring responsibilities with school, friendships and their own health. The contribution young carers make is invaluable and on this action day we would like to reassure young carers that “We’re here for you”. There are specialist young carer services in Wakefield, Kirklees, Leeds, Calderdale and Bradford and our young carers steering group works in partnership to identify and support young carers, last year launching both the support app and eBook.”

This Young Carers Action Day is an opportunity to let young carers know they are not alone. Visit our Young Carers Action Day 2022 page or follow @WYpartnership on Twitter to find out more and help let young carers know ‘we’re here for you’. 

Tom a young carer from Wakefield who has made a video in support of Young Carers Action Day said “"I'm really pleased with how much we've managed to do this year and knowing that I've helped other carers get the awareness and understanding that they deserve, I'm really happy with that."

Services for young carers in west Yorkshire:

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