"Youngsters caring for parents need more support"

Friday 03 May 2019

Guernsey's new Carers Action Plan will target school-goers whose education and social life suffers from having to look after relatives during their studies.

Carers Guernsey Chairman Peter Harwood said the new plan, which is aimed at informal, unpaid volunteers, must not overlook youngsters who are helping with family members, usually parents.

Health & Social Care announced the plan this week to provide more support and advice to carers and fund additional respite services, re-ablement, and signposting to relevant services.

"We welcome it as a statement of action," said Mr Harwood. "It is not just a strategy or a talking shop - it has defined actions that will provide better support to carers."

One area that he says it must focus on is younger carers, as the extent of the issue hard to gauge and needs greater awareness brought to it. 

"It is important to identify youngsters who are caring for people whilst in school, perhaps supporting a parent, as lots of those don’t recognise themselves as carers," said Mr Harwood.

"That problem has been identified with the Youth Commission and other groups that are more targeted to youngsters. We do not as an island recognise it as an issue and we need to help those youngsters to get support, because their education suffers as a result."

Something that carers of all ages can benefit from is peer support and the opportunity to meet up with others who are in a similar situation to yourself. 

"It is important to get groups of carers together as it helps some of the isolation that carers feel and it is important to develop that peer support."

Pictured Top: Carers Guernsey Chairman Peter Harwood.