Are you a Young Unpaid Carer?
Are you a young person who looks after a family member, neighbour or friend?
If you provide emotional, physical, or practical support, whatever your age and whoever you look after, this could mean that you’re an unpaid carer.
If you’re an adult carer looking for support click here.
Could You Be a Young Carer?
A young carer is someone under 18 who helps look after a family member or friend with an illness, disability, mental health condition, or substance misuse issue. You might not think of yourself as a carer, but if you do any of the things listed below, you could be a young carer.
Here are some examples of what young carers often do:
- Helping with household chores like cleaning, cooking, or shopping.
- Assisting with personal care, such as helping someone dress, wash, or get around.
- Offering emotional support by listening or comforting someone when they’re feeling low.
- Managing medications, appointments, or finances.
- Looking after siblings or other family members because a parent or guardian cannot.
If this sounds like you, support is available to make sure you’re not doing this alone.
What support is available?
Young carers can access a range of support, including opportunities to take a break from their caring responsibilities through trips and activities, as well as dedicated support for their families. There are forums where young carers can connect with peers, digital resources to raise awareness and provide assistance, and Young Carer ID Cards to help identify and recognise their role.
Support in your area
Support for Young Carers in Neath Port Talbot is provided by Neath Port Talbot Council Young Carers Service, while support in Swansea is provided by the YMCA Young Carers Service. Click the buttons below to learn more about what’s on offer from each respective organisation.
Short Breaks
Across the region there are a number of opportunities for you to receive a break from caring.
If you need support in applying for one of the short breaks or would like to receive more information about the breaks please contact your local Young Carers Service
How to apply for support
The referral process is slightly different depending on your location.
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Referrals for Young Carer support in Neath Port Talbot are handled by the council’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC), which accepts referrals via telephone and email.
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Referrals for Young Carer support in Swansea are handled by the YMCA Young Carers Service. The YMCA accept referrals from professionals (such as schools, doctors etc.) and self-referrals. A referral form must be filled out and a Young Carers Assessment will be undertaken with all eligible applicants. More information and contact details are available on the YMCA’s website.
Young Carers ID Cards
Neath Port Talbot and Swansea have adopted the National Young Carers ID Card.
Created by young carers, the card helps professionals such as doctors, teachers, and pharmacists identify and provide appropriate support. Young Carers ID Cards are given on enrolment as a young carer, for more information contact your local Young Carers Service.
Examples of where you can use your ID card include:
In School:
- If you are late to school or behind on your work as a result of your caring obligations
- If you need to take time out of class
- If you find it difficult to concentrate in class
- To reschedule school obligations such as meetings and detentions
- To use your phone to check up on the person you care for
At the doctors or the pharmacy
- To accompany the person you care for in an appointment
- To collect medication on behalf of the person you care for
- To ask questions on behalf of the person you care for
You can learn more about the National Young Carer ID Card scheme here.
Regional Activities
Young Carers Celebration Event
On 29th October 2024, 45 young carers participated in a joint celebration event that brought together Neath Port Talbot Young Carers, Swansea YMCA’s Young Carers, and Swansea’s African Community of Young Carers. The day was packed with activities, including wall climbing, games, Nerf Wars (featuring special guest dinosaurs), and arts and crafts focused on the theme of “things that make us happy.” Participants had the chance to unleash their creativity by designing canvases inspired by this topic.
After tackling the climbing wall, everyone gathered to enjoy a fantastic buffet lunch and discuss how communities, local amenities, services, and support networks are helpful, as well as how they could be improved. As a token of appreciation for their hard work and dedication, each young carer received a thank-you gift, including a cinema voucher and a box of chocolates, making the day even more special.
Young Carers Action Day 2024
On 13th March 2024, the Waterfront Museum hosted a celebration for Young Carers Action Day, bringing together young carers, partner organisations, and supporters to mark the occasion.
Colleagues from YMCA Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Council worked with young carers to share their experiences—both the challenges and successes. Discussions on the day focused on key topics such as Young Carer ID Cards, Young Carers Champions, and raising awareness about best practices to support young carers’ needs in education. The inspiring and heartfelt stories shared by the young carers made a lasting impact, highlighting their resilience and dedication. A big well done to everyone involved in making the day so meaningful!
If you need mental health support
Having caring responsibilities can be challenging, Tidyminds is a website which can provide mental health and wellbeing advice and support to young people.
