A young carer is a young person, up to the age of 18, whose educational, health, social or emotional development may be affected by their caring responsibilities in the family.
 
This could be:
- At home or elsewhere
- In respect of physical or emotional caring
- Normally on a long-term basis
 
In comparison to what any young person of comparable age could reasonably be expected to experience or achieve. This differs from other definitions of carers and young carers, which often define ‘caring’ in terms of the disability or illness of the person being cared for. The above definition concentrates on the young person.

This is because young people have a right to their childhood and the opportunities for educational, health, social and emotional development that go with it. Young carers are not adult carers who are small, but children with a future.

Our Young Carers Workers provide support, help with health, social and educational development and organise social activities for young people up to the age of 18 whose lives may be affected by caring for a family member. 

Rapport Project

Caring for someone at home takes strength, and it might begin as young as six. It builds character, but impacts upon schoolwork, health, friendships and simply the right to be young.

At Westbank, our starting point in the Young Carer’s RAPPORT PROJECT is to Help Young Carers to be Carefree. Thanks to committed volunteers, young carers enjoy sports, art, music, crafts and adventure trips together and are building their own local networks.

As well as this, we have brilliant one-to-ones where a specially vetted volunteer is matched up with one or two young carers. He or she sets up an informal ‘agreement’ to (for example) be a listening ear, or share a hobby, help with homework, explore local leisure, or simply transport to a youth group.

Any of those make a huge difference to the young carer, immediately and probably into the future. And volunteers say they get a real buzz and unique experience from helping a young life. Rapport wants more one to ones: for starters there are too few school holidays and weekends to absorb the ever-growing group activity!

There’s a Young Carer near you. They try to keep a low profile but one in ten children of school age are caring. We work across Exeter, East Devon and Teignbridge, and currently (Summer 2005) we are in touch with 300 young carers. That’s the tip of the iceberg, but with your help think what we might do.

BECOME A VOLUNTEER