Blackpool Carers Centre - Caring For Carers

Would you like to become more involved in the Young Carers' service and make decisions about activities, Young Carers' grants, websites, and lots of other things that affect the service you receive?

We need young carers who want to make decisions about their service and are prepared to put in some of their time and effort to make things happen.
If this is something you would like to do, you will be fully supported by all the Young Carers' staff and management team.

You can become involved in different ways:
• You can be part of a group that will look at activities and how much to spend on them.
• You could be part of a group that will look at finding money to pay for new activities or residential courses.
• You could develop your own newsletter or help with designing the website.
• Have the opportunity to have your say in the wider community, both locally and nationally.

Give us your ideas on how you want to be involved.

If you can spare a couple of hours every two weeks then please contact us and let us know if you want to know more or would like to join our team. All the information you need to know will be posted here, so please keep looking.

We are looking forward to working with you.

Nigel, Vicky, Sophie, Faye and Jaymelea

Question and Answer

If you have a question it may have already been answered below. If not please feel free to contact the Young Carers Team.

Are young carers more likely to be girls
or boys?

56% of young carers are girls and 44% boys.

Who can get help from a young carers project?

Anyone who is looking after someone at home can get in touch to find out what is available
for them.

Is it alright for someone to miss school to look after a disabled parent?

Whilst it may be unavoidable on odd occasions, it is not a good solution in the long term. The family needs to get help from a young
carers service.

What details will Childline want to know from someone who calls them?

Childline will ask you if you want to give them your first name or if you would rather make one up. They have to call you something, even if it's Mickey Mouse. What you decide to tell them is entirely up to you.

If a child tells Childline that they are being abused, will childline tell the police?

No. Childline has a rule of absolute confidentiality, unless a caller's life is in immediate danger.

If a 14 year old girl is pregnant, will her doctor tell her parents/guardians?

The law says that everything you tell a doctor must be kept private, whatever age you are.
If the girl was being abused or in danger then the doctor would have to tell social services, but not their parents/guardians.

What is a Mental Health problem?

A problem or illness which affects the way someone feels or thinks. It is estimated one in four people will have a mental health problem at some time in their lives.
This includes depression, anxiety, obsessions, phobias and eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa.

How can you tell if someone has a drink problem?

They may be drinking every day and at all times of the day. Drinking, to them, is more important than many other things in their life, and they may neglect to eat properly or to look after their appearance. However, some people hide drink problems very effectively.

How old should you be to help your mum or dad take their medication?

You can be any age, there no are legal restrictions on this.

If someone gets into a fight at school, because of problems at home, should school treat them the same as
everyone else?

It depends on the school's policy but every incident should be dealt with on its merits and schools should be alert to victims of bullying, prejudice and discrimination.

Is it true that most young people don't want other people to know about their problems at home?

Often people are unsure about how others might react and are afraid of being made fun of. But lots of young people say that they would like to help their friends if they could.

Is it ever ok to tell other people something that your friend wanted you to keep secret?

Your friend may be very upset with you and never trust you again, but if it is something that makes you very worried about them, you may need to tell an adult to make sure that they are safe.

Is it easier for girls to talk about problems at home than it is for boys?

Many will say that it is easier for girls to admit to feeling sadness or fear, whereas boys pretend to be hard or strong.

Are people who have a disability as good at being parents as people who don't have a disability?

Disabled people are all different like anyone else. Some young carers say their parents are brilliant even though their disability prevents them from doing the same things as more able bodied parents might do.

Do disabled parents need help with being parents?

Some do, some don't. They may need more help to get to places, such as parents evenings, particularly if they have mobility problems.

What should be done for a child if both their parents have a mental health problem?

There are very good support services that can help the child and the family to understand and cope with whatever mental health
issues exist.

How might it feel for someone who has a brother or sister who has learning difficulties?

Some young carrs tell us that they are very proud of their disabled siblings and have lots of fun with them. Lots of brothers and sisters have a love/hate relationship and this is also true of siblings who are disabled. Some feel embarrassed that their own friends may be unsympathetic towards them.

How might it feel to have a parent who uses drugs?

They may feel frightened, concerned about their health and well being, worried about them breaking the law and having to go to prison. They may be concerned that if anyone in authority gets to know the family could be split up (although this is the last resort).

Should older brothers and sisters look after the youngest brothers or sisters when the parents are ill?

There is no reason why they should, although it may appear to be the easiest option if no other adult member in the family can help. However, if this results in difficulties in school it is better if agencies that would be able to help are approached to see what support can be given, to allow the young carer to get on with their education with less disruption.

Are people with mental health problems as good parents as people without them?

They may be, it depends on the level of mental health problem and the amount of support they are getting with their parenting role.

Are people who have a drug problem as good parents as those who don't?

They may be, but it depends on the behaviour of the parent when they are taking drugs. They may behave like anyone else or their behaviour may be unsafe when they
are using.

Should a young person lift his/her mum if she is a wheelchair user?

They may feel that they have to because there is no one else around to help, however there may be a real risk of injury which is why additional support should be investigated.