Carers Rights Day: 25 November
Get the support you need
Many people have caring responsibilities for family and friends. This means they have to juggle their own lives, including work or studying, with caring for their loved ones. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the lives of carers, including the reduction in access to services and support. Knowing what help is available and how to the get support you need can make a big difference.
Our volunteer Lee is a young carer. He has shared his story with us on Carers Rights Day to help raise awareness of the challenges that carers face and the support that is available for young carers in Dorset, which has made such a positive difference in his own life.
Lee: My life as a young carer
Keeping mum safe and well
Hi, my name is Lee, I’m 17 and I am a young carer from Dorset. This means I am a little bit busier than the average teenager on a day-to-day basis. From a young age, I have had a role in caring for my mum who has epilepsy and rheumatoid arthritis. I was never able to choose to have this role, it was just placed upon me as there was no one else to do the job, although I should give credit to my younger sister who helps to make sure our mum is safe and well.
This means we are in charge of the upkeep of the house and our garden. My duties include cooking for the family, washing up, walking our dog, and making sure the whole place is clean so that my mum doesn’t have to struggle to do these things and potentially hurt herself in the process. It is also important that I assist her at home – by helping her to get out of bed or off the sofa if she is feeling ‘stiff’, making sure she is taking her tablets when she should be, encouraging her to eat, and also to take a nap at some point in the day as she never really manages to get enough sleep at night – and when we go shopping especially.
I worry about my mum when I’m away from home
However, I can’t always be there for my mum. For example, when I go to school, I feel really guilty for leaving her at home and that is quite daunting for me knowing that she could black out or have a seizure at any time and I wouldn’t be there to do anything about it. I often text her while at school to make sure of the odd thing such as reminding her to take her tablets. This anxiety can really distract me from my learning which is especially disheartening now as I will be taking my A-levels this academic year.
Meeting other young carers showed me that I’m not alone
Although this is tricky at times, I have received a great deal of support from Dorset Young Carers Service. It turns out that there is in fact a small department of people whose job it is to provide this support for young carers locally. One amazing thing they do is organise trips and days out for us to come together and have a break. This was so helpful for me as I had the opportunity to meet multiple other young carers, who live in places bordering my home town, and make friends. It showed me that I wasn’t alone and that there are numbers of others around my age, and even much younger, in a similar position.
Furthermore, there is an estimated 700,000 young carers across the UK which astonishes me. This figure fills me with triumph and hope in which to carry on my daily routine but, on the other hand, it is dreading to think there is so many people out there who rely on their families to support them as there is not enough public healthcare available.
Employability programme helps young carers look to the future
Recently, a charity called MyTime (a group of volunteers who are ecstatic to meet young carers and make their lives easier) has stepped in to help the Council with supporting us. Amongst all the brilliant things the charity does, they have provided an employability programme for those aged 16 and upwards which was particularly helpful for me as, amongst improving my interview skills. It allowed me to realise the qualities I have that an employer might be looking for.
I am really grateful for all the support I have received because it has really helped me to come out of my shell and has shaped me as a person so I can get more out of life. There are many more young people out there with a similar story to tell. Some of which may be more positive, but unfortunately for some; it can be quite unnerving to tell their story.
Volunteering with Healthwatch Dorset has been empowering
Over this past year, I have been volunteering in the Young Listener Project with Healthwatch Dorset. As a Young Listener, I have spoken with multiple local young people, interviewing them about their experiences with the health and social care systems in the county. The idea of this is to investigate what people like about the services and what might need improving. Participating in the project has been very beneficial for me, not only as it is something useful to add to my CV, but it is also an empowering feeling knowing that I have been part of influencing a positive change relevant to the residents of the county I live in.
Find out more about support for young carers in Dorset
- MyTime: “Levelling the playing field for young carers – With an educational approach driven by charitable action, our mission is to level the playing field for young carers by providing them with the support, friendship and opportunities that every child deserves.”
- Dorset Young Carers Service: As a young carer you must be given support and help on a regular basis. Dorset Council will assess any young person who meets our eligibility criteria to see what kind of support you need.
- Contact Young Carers at Carer Support Dorset to find out about support for young carers.
We thank Lee for his contribution towards this article.
Share your story and your feedback
If you’re an unpaid carer, you can share your experiences and feedback with us about support services in Dorset
