Know your rights Young Carers

… ‘Hey there, I’m Alex, a Manchester Young Carer, and this isn’t like one of those booklets that people pick up and pretend to read… (AKA “I’m never going to read this…”) This booklet will actually help you in understanding a lot more about what you do as a young carer and what support you can get too.’

Psst… honestly, some of things in here, I didn’t even know about. Like, actual useful things. You’ll have to read on, I won’t spoil anything here!

So, let’s get you caught up on what an actual young carer is, because I don’t know about you, but I see quite a few definitions and I’m not sure what the right one is. But actually, there is no right or wrong one – the definition of a young carer is taken from section 96 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

“…a person under 18 who provides or intends to provide care for another person (of any age, except where that care is provided for payment, pursuant to a contract or as voluntary work).”

However, in Manchester we recognise that the impact on children and young people may be related to additional duties such as housework, shopping and caring for siblings rather than actual caring duties. Therefore, our definition includes a person under 18 who provides or intends to provide care for another person (of any age, except where that care is provided for payment, pursuant to a contract or as voluntary work). This relates to care or additional duties related to having a family member who has a physical disability, mental health needs or learning disability, or who is affected by drug, alcohol or other substance misuse.

Now that may seem quite… technical, and perhaps it is, but ultimately a young carer provides help and support for a family member who may find it difficult to do things by themselves and just need that extra support to get there.

So, let’s read on!

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• Cleaning my bedroom and other rooms in the house;

• Washing the dishes or putting them in the dishwasher;

• Taking responsibility for food shopping and other essentials;

• Help to lift or carry heavy things;

• Help with financial matters such as dealing with bills, banking, collecting benefits;

• Helping the person I care for dress, undress, wash, bath or shower;

• Looking after brothers and sisters whilst an adult is nearby or on their own;

• Providing emotional support and helping the person I care for keep safe.

“How did I know I was a young carer?”….some of the things I was doing athome included;

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Being a young carer or young adult carer can be quite stressful at times, I’msure you know the feeling. Have no fear! I always thought that there’s nobody I can speak to about the problems I’m having, and that even if I did, nothing willcome of it. I also think it takes some courage to admit you need support yourself,because young carers are the one caring for another, not necessarily themselves.

At the end of the day though, you’re still young and it’s definitely okay to ask for help. This booklet isn’t the only place you can get support, it could help to speakto some of the people listed below:

• Teachers or someone at school• Pastoral Workers• GPs• Support Workers• Early Help Social Workers etc.

If you are feeling unsure of who to go to, or how to start a conversation see page 7 for a list of organisations who could also help you.

Earlier, I told you about who can support you as a young carer. They’re also there for someone to listen to you. If I ever feel down or upset, maybe even angry or scared, I know that those people will listen to me, which is sometimes, just what I want.

So having someone listen to you is quite nice, but there’s many other things you can do to improve your health and wellbeing. It’s okay to think about No.1 (that’s you, by the way).

Here, I’ll let you know what I like to do to make me feel better...

Some other things that might help are:

Reading books – using the Manchester City Council library app

Exercise like walking, running or going the local leisure centre

Spending time with mates, family or pets

Join a local group or club – look online for activities in your area

Start a hobby, like drawing, painting or writing

I absolutely love music. I listen to all types of songs and genres, and I don’t know about you, but sometimes I choose a particular song without realising why I actually chose it.

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What’s also true is the amount of help and support you offer, as this varies with young carer to young carer. Some young carers may help and support more than one person, others may have to be there to help a lot more often.

Also, let’s not forget that young people aged 16 to 25 are young adult carers’, they’re young carers, but older! They may also have added pressures as when you turn 16, you’d may want to go to college or do an apprenticeship, or even work! When you’re 18, you may want to attend university, work part-time or full-time, maybe something else.

Whether you’re a young carer or young adult carer, I think this is so important to say that you are actually awesome. Like seriously, you’re just so awesome. And I guess the reason for reading this is for you to learn more about your rights and where you can get support. Manchester recognises how amazing young carers are!

You may have come across this word before, ‘statutory rights’. Don’t worry, I didn’t know what it meant either. Until now of course!

Let’s break it down. Statutory rights are a fancy way of saying ‘legal rights’… as the actual word ‘statutory’ relates to something called a ‘statute’, this is basically the Law of the land.

Now that we understand what it actually means, let me tell you what your rights are…

If you are caring for someone, you have the right to:

• Choose to be a carer, or not

• Feel happy and supported

• To be healthy and safe

• Spend time with your mates

• To an education in school or college

• To get support for your caring role

• Rights to an assessment of your needs

Moving between schools or into college or adulthood? Let’s talk. This is often called TRANSITION

It can be a scary thought thinking about leaving primary school, high school, college and university. At each stage, things change, and as a young carer, it can be really difficult to know what to do and what support is out there.

For me, I certainly had this worry, even though it will happen to every other young person and young carer. Below are some questions you have a right to know. Speak to people who can help you – see page 3. PRIMARY SCHOOL > HIGH SCHOOL • Does my support stop?• Nervous starting high school?• What are my rights? HIGH SCHOOL > COLLEGE

• Does my support stop?• Nervous starting high school?• Fitting a part-time job around study (is it worth it?)• What are my rights? COLLEGE > UNIVERSITY OR EMPLOYMENT• Does my support stop?• Do I leave home for university? • How to manage caring role?• Can I get a part-time job?

• Help and support Manchester hsm.manchester.gov.uk

• Manchester Carers Centre and Young Carers Group manchestercarers.org.uk

• Our pass, transport for young people ourpass.co.uk

• Leisure centres in Manchester better.org.uk

• gaddum.org.uk

• Children’s Society childrenssociety.org.uk

• Carers Trust – Young Carers Rights carers.org

• 42ndstreet.org.uk

If you are a Manchester young carer and would like help and support but unsure of who to go to, or how to start a conversation. The organisations listed below could help you develop some useful ways of coping. They can also remind you where to go when things aren’t going so well, so follow the links below to suggested organisations who can provide support and information for you as a young person.

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I know I can search for advice from my school or college, or speak to a careers advisor to help me work out what I want to do. Also I can get advice on benefits from my local job centre plus or citizens advice centre….

A special thanks to our friends

Understanding the rights of you as a carer and the rights of those that you care for are equally important. As a Young Carer you have the right to access facilities that will make life easier for both you and those you are caring for. Ask about your rights.

© Maia Lees Artist/Illustrator