Information for Parents / Family of Young Carers

West Cumbria Young Carers Project offers a service to Young Carers aged between 5 & 18, who have caring responsibilities. They are young people whose lives are in some way restricted because of the need to take on responsibilities for the care of a person who is ill, disabled, elderly or with drug/alcohol problems. Caring tasks can range from general household tasks to full personal care.

Caring may affect young people, particularly at school, in some of the following ways:

• missing school or arriving late because of caring tasks, or having to take brothers and sisters to school first
• not completing schoolwork on time
• finding concentrations in class difficult
• not having enough time to study
• low self-esteem
• appearing tired or depressed or stressed out
• not being able to join in after-school and weekend activities
• being bullied by other students because of their caring role
• no one being able to attend parents' evenings on their behalf

West Cumbria Carers offer a number of services to Young Carers, with the provision of a Support Worker for the young person.

What we offer

• Needs led one to one support for Young Carers
• Trips and Social Events aimed at Young Carers up to the age of 18
• Young Carers Groups
• Newsletter
• Support in school
• Signposting and referral to other support services

What to do next... 

If you, or a member of your family would like to meet up with one of our Support Workers for more information on how to access our services, or an informal chat, then give our office a call on 01900 821 976 and we can arrange to meet at a time and place suitable to you. Alternatively you can drop us an email here. Please remember to include your name and telephone number.

If you don’t feel you need us at the moment, just bear this website in mind, as things may change.