Barnardo’s Aberdeen Young Carers Service supports young carers in Aberdeen City to live a happy and fulfilled life alongside caring. With at least 2,000 Young Carers in Aberdeen City who would benefit from support within schools, the local community, other professionals and from Barnardo’s. Our aim is to develop the service to support young carers with individual identified needs, reduce the impact of caring, allow them to receive a short break from caring, help to reduce social isolation, improve wellbeing and increase their resilience.
A Young Carer is someone up to the age of 18 who cares for a relative, friend, or neighbour who may have physical health needs, emotional care needs or require practical help.
These young people can be identified as Young Carers if they:
- Look after someone who has a physical health need/ disability
- Look after someone who is terminally ill
- Look after someone with mental health concerns
- Help their grandparents/ neighbour with shopping, cleaning, and other practical tasks on a regular basis
- Help to look after their siblings who have additional support needs
- Has a parent or adult at home with substance/ alcohol misuse
- Cares for someone who is deaf, blind, does not speak English and requires to interpret/ sign/ translate for them.
We provide a range of support opportunities which we continue to gain feedback and ideas from the Young Carers and Families to develop further. Our support opportunities available at present are as follows:
- One-to-one support focusing on reducing the impact of the caring role, the Young Carers health and wellbeing, support for change and loss, family support and meeting the individual needs identified for the Young Carer
- Advocacy on behalf of the Young Carers or their families to support them in having their voice heard and needs recognised with other professionals, schools etc
- Volunteer Befriender’s for identified Young Carers to support with social opportunities, accessing a break from their caring responsibilities, and improving their health and wellbeing
- A range of regular group opportunities for all ages – both in identified schools and out with the school environment
- School holiday programmes that include weekly social groups and activities for all age groups
- Partnerships with local organisations to offer respite and development opportunities to Young Carers and their families
- Weekly Adult Support Group for Adult Carers, Cared For’s and other adult family members involved with the Young Carer to receive peer support and information
- Financial support opportunities through the Aberdeen City Council Young Carers Grant, Social Security Scotland, Young Scot and other funding platforms for both Young Carers and their Families
- Signposting to other organisations and professionals within Aberdeen City and Nationally to gain tailored support for Young Carers and their Families
Support offered to the Young Carer is recognised at the point of referral depending on the need of the Young Carer and their family – this also depends on the level of support they already have in place and the level of support they wish to have.
https://www.barnardos.org.uk/what-we-do/services/aberdeen-young-carers
https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/Aberdeen-Protects/improving-childrens-futures/young-carers
