Young Carers in Suffolk
Suffolk County Council commissions Suffolk Family Carers to deliver support services for Young Carers up to the age of 18.
The service helps young carers have a break from their caring role, reduce feelings of isolation, helping them create friendships, gaining peer support, build their confidence and raising aspirations for the future. Improving emotional wellbeing for young carers is a key part of the work Suffolk Family Carers does. Their work in schools and colleges supports the Raising the Bar objectives to raise educational attainment in Suffolk. They also work directly with families and Social Services to identify and help reduce inappropriate caring roles. Their team of professional Advisers undertake assessments and reviews with the young people who are registered with the service. They also support other professionals who work with young carers, such as school nurses and pastoral staff in schools and colleges.
This is achieved through differing levels of support following a needs-based assessment.
Advice and information
- Dedicated phone line open Monday – Friday, 9 am to 6.30 pm to provide advice and information to young carers and young adult carers, their families and professionals. Call 01473 835 477.
- Online resources for both young carers, their families and professionals. Visit us at www.suffolkfamilycarers.org
- Online Chat Until 6:30pm weekdays
- Young Carers can call 01473 835 477 and access Your Space at: Young Carers | Suffolk Family Carers (suffolkfamilyandcommunity.org)
Respite, holiday activities and social events
Young carers often don’t ordinarily have the opportunity to socialise with friends or enjoy a day trip out. Monthly clubs and holiday activities give young carers a break from their caring role, the opportunity to have some fun, be a young person away from their day-to-day responsibilities and gain peer support from other young carers who understand the challenges caring can bring.
Personal development workshops
The service aims to empower and enable young carers, helping them develop life skills and other life enhancing experiences. This includes support to master independent travel aimed at empowering young carers to lead fuller, independent lives and to engage in their local communities. There are also a number of workshops offered for young carers to increase their self-confidence and improve emotional wellbeing. This includes Be Your Own Best Friend, Be Your Own Leader as well as assertiveness and condition specific workshops.
Working with schools and colleges
Suffolk Family Carers provides schools and colleges with the resources to develop young carer support in schools and colleges. There is growing evidence that if young carers are identified and offered appropriate support in schools and colleges this can improve their educational outcomes.
For more information please visit, http://www.suffolkfamilycarers.org/.