Support for young carers

Is there someone at home with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem? Do you have to help a lot, or worry a lot about the person who is unwell? Are you under 18? You could be a young carer.

It is estimated that over 2,000 young people in North Somerset have caring responsibilities at home, so you are not alone. Get in touch to find out more about meeting other young carers and what support is available to you.

What might a young carer do?

Young carers often to a lot of helpful things, such as:

• Staying in the house a lot to be there for someone
• Helping them to get up, get washed or dressed, or helping with personal care
• Doing lots of the household chores like shopping, cleaning and cooking
• Looking after younger brothers and sisters
• Providing emotional support or a shoulder to cry on.

What impact does being a young carer have?

We know that being a young carer can mean missing out, feeling different to others and sometimes finding life that bit harder.

We recognise too that it can also have an impact on your school life including taking part in out of school activities, behaviour and ability to complete coursework and homework on time.

You may also worry about talking to someone because you worry about things like bullying, letting your family down or being taken into care.

Here's how we support young carers

Holiday groups

These take place during each school holiday and are for young carers in both Primary and Secondary schools to catch up with each other and the friends they have made. They might be chilled out, where we just have fun and games, or might tackle a serious topic such as anxiety or sleep.

Day trips and holiday workshops

It might be a trip to the theatre, a day of karting, a visit to the zoo or a picnic on the beach and provides a break from your caring role and a chance to meet other young carers.

Holiday Workshops might take place instead of groups during school holidays, and will have a fun theme and activity.

Trips away

We run two-night residential weekends for young carers across the year. These weekends give them a longer break from their caring responsibilities.

Advocacy

All young carers can access one-to-one support to help with particular issues

Young Adult Carers Support

We know that navigating adulthood can be challenging, and when you add caring responsibilities into the mix, it can make big life decisions that bit more complicated. Whether you're thinking about moving out, starting university or planning your future career, we understand how much this can impact you.

If you're a young adult transitioning out of our young carers support service or seeking assistance, our adult carers team is here to help.

Other sources of support

If you don’t want to speak to us, you can always speak to a teacher that you trust, or maybe your school nurse.

There are also online communities available to young carers where you can find others in similar situations, share experiences, and access information and support from expert professionals.

• Carers.org is a forum for older Young Carers (aged 16-25)
• You can also contact Childline 08001111 for free confidential advice at any time

How to access support

If you're a young carer, a parent or guardian of a child with caring responsibilities, or know someone who might need support, get in touch. 

To start, simply complete the enquiry form below and we'll get back to you.

Alternatively, you can:

• Email carersupport@alliancehomes.org.uk
• Call us on 03000 120 120
• Send us a message through Live Chat on our website
• Visit or write to us at Alliance Homes, 40 Martingale Way, Portishead, BS20 7AW.