1. Action for Young Carers Service
Nottinghamshire Carers Conference 2017
Welcome everyone, introduce yourself and domestics

2. Introductions

3. What is a young carer?
The Children & Families Act 2014 defines a young carers as: “A person under 18 years old who provides or intends to provide unpaid care for another person who is ill, disabled or misuses substances. The concept of care includes personal, practical or emotional support.
Briefly explain that the Children & Families Act 2014 is one of two pieces of legislation that give all carers rights in law. The other legislation is the Care Act.

4. What do young carers do? Some things may include:
Practical things – washing, cooking, cleaning
Personal care – dressing, bathing etc
Emotional support – listening, calming down
Physical lifting or carrying
Fetching and prompting medication
Keeping someone safe
Managing money
Interpreting etc

5. The impact Positive: Negative: Feel important, valued & included
More confident & able to deal with problems
Learn empathy & to be resilient
Early life skills – looking after the home, managing budgets & booking appointments etc
Feel closer
Peer support / respect for others
Motivation – increased desire to succeed
Doing too much (inappropriate & excessive)
Feeling different (bullied)
Physical health (lifting)
Isolated
Worrying about the future
Struggling with / missing school
Lack of self-care
Low self-esteem & self-worth
Increased maturity!
Briefly read the positives as well as negatives. Explain that caring can be a very rewarding and skill learning experience for children and young people but can also be detrimental if inappropriate or excessive. There is a duty on us all to safeguard young carers from too much caring!

6. Action for Young Carers- what we do!
Assessment of needs
Young Carer groups (primary and secondary age)
Activities during school half terms.
Young carers groups (term time)
1:1 face to face support
Young Carer consultations
Access to Young Carer App
Young Carer ID Cards.
Speak to people on behalf of both parents and
Young Carers

7. Interpersonal development

8. Health and Wellbeing

9. Creative Expression

10. Self Esteem Building

11. Learning new skills

12. Reducing Isolation

13. Positive Outcomes
“Excellent communication, friendly AYC staff, all in all it’s been a wonderful experience for my son and us as a family.
Many thanks!”
-Family supported by AYC