Blackpool Young Carers

What is a Young Carer?

Young carers are children and young people under the age of 18 years, who provide care to another family member who has a physical illness or disability, mental ill health, sensory disability or has problematic use of drugs or alcohol and the level of care they provide would normally be undertaken by an adult, thus impacting adversely on their childhood.

What sort of problems do Young Carers face?
Not being able to concentrate in class
Feeling tired all the time
Feeling embarrassed to talk about their caring role
Feeling worried about the person they care for and what is happening at home
Not having time to do homework and finding school life difficult to manage
Being bullied
Getting into trouble with teaching staff
Missing out on spending times with friends


About our Young Carers’ Service

We offer numerous services and support for Young Carers and their families including:
North Shore Young Carers’ Youth Club 3.30-5.30pm (during term time only) at Claremont Community Centre, Claremont Road, Blackpool

South Shore Young Carers’ Youth Club 3.30-5.30pm (during term time only)

at Holy Cross Parish Centre, Central Drive (at crossroads with Waterloo Road), Blackpool

One to one support

Residential trips

Trips and activities

Funding for hobbies and interests

Consultation Groups

Newsletters

Mentoring
Whole family support


What happens when you join our service?

We will arrange a time and place where we can meet up and talk about what your needs are.
Speaking to us does not mean that you will be taken into care or that your parents will be in trouble. We are here to offer advice, support and information for you and your family.
All information you share with us is confidential (unless you are at risk of harm). This means that we won’t tell anyone like parents, teachers, social workers or friends without talking to you about it first.
We just need your parent or guardian to sign a consent form so that you will be able to come out with us.

What do Young Carers’ Family Support Workers do?
Give advice and support if you have any problems such as personal or health problems or bullying that you want to talk about in confidence.
Organise free events and activities so you can get out and enjoy yourself and also meet other young carers who may be going through a similar experience to you.
If you have problems with school, then we can talk to your school to help them understand your situation and become more flexible with school work and homework.
Help you with any problems you may have with social services or health authorities.
Give you information about the condition of the person you care for, what their medication does to them and details of other organisations who can help and support you.
If you have any special hobbies or interests we can try and arrange for you to continue with these.
Organise young carers’ help groups which may help with feelings of low self esteem, anxiety or lack of confidence.


How you can get help from this service


If you have any problems or would just like someone to talk to in confidence then either give one of our Young Carers’ Family Support Workers a call on 01253 393748, email them, or fill out the Contact Us Form on this website and someone will contact you.

You can also download the Young Carers’ Referral Form below then complete and return this to us at: Blackpool Carers’ Centre, Norman House, Robson Way, Blackpool FY5 3SA.

Visit our Young Carers Facebook pageClick on the Facebook logo to visit our
Young Carers Facebook page for lots more information on our service including details of events and Carers’ Centre news updates. You can also send messages to our Young Carers’ Family Support Workers if there is anything you need to ask.