We’re supporting Young Carers Action Day 2023

This Young Carers Action Day (Wednesday 15th March 2023) we are continuing our work ensuring young carers aged up to 25 in Hertfordshire are identified and have access to the services they need and can balance caring with education or work, looking after their health and time to themselves.

This year’s theme is ‘Making time for young carers’ as feedback from young people with caring responsibilities shows they want support with mental health, money and finances, education and a break from caring. Carers in Hertfordshire offers information, workshops and activities to support carers of all ages with these issues – whether you are aged under 19 and helped by our Young Carers Service or 19+ and with our adult service we are here for you.

All young carers that completed our 2022 survey (345 carers) reported a positive outcome after attending our workshops or activities. However, many – 45% are worried about the future, compared to 38% of the 1,109 young carers that completed a recent Carers Trust survey.

We are expanding our support for young adult carers aged 18 to 25 as we are launching a support group for you. Young adult carers are invited to join us on Saturday 25th March 2023, 3.30pm – 6.30pm, for pizza and a chat about what they would like from a group. The event is in Hatfield and places much be booked by contacting us.

Gemma Roake, Manager of our Young Carers Service, said: “Young Carers Action Day is a great opportunity to put the spotlight on young carers, the challenges they face and the support they need. It is also a chance for organisations such as ours to remind young carers that we are there for them.”

Currently, there are around 2,500 young carers registered with Carers in Hertfordshire as they provide unpaid help to a family member or someone close to them as they need some support because of a physical or mental illness, disability, old age or they misuse drugs or alcohol. However, there are many more hidden carers and we would encourage them to get in touch so they receive information to help them and the support they are entitled to.

You can help us make a positive difference to the lives of adult and child carers by volunteering or supporting us through fundraising.

Carers Trust, which co-ordinates Young Carers Action Day is urging people in the UK to write to their MP and the Prime Minister calling for the government to make changes to improve the support for young carers (people aged up to 18) and young adult carers (aged 16 to 25).

The Carers Trust is campaigning for the government to:
• Publish a national strategy and action plan for unpaid carers in 2023;
• Extend eligibility for Carer’s Allowance to unpaid carers in full-time education;
• Improve the short breaks offer so young carers and young adult carer have access to age-appropriate breaks.

They also want schools, colleges and universities to have a Young Carers Lead. There is more information at www.carers.org/ycad

Whatever you do to mark Young Carers Action Day 2023, we would like to know. You can share tweets at @ycherts using the hashtag #YoungCarersActionDay or email young.carers@carersinherts.org.uk

To find out more about how we can support you if you’re a carer, contact us – email contact@carersinherts.org.uk or call 01992 58 69 69.