Young Carers Awareness Day takes place on Thursday 30 January. It aims to raise awareness of the challenges young carers face, and the campaigns that support them. Across the UK, thousands of young people help to look after someone in their family, or a friend, who is unwell, disabled or struggles with addiction.
Recent research revealed that one in five secondary school children may be a young carer, and many of them have been so since a much younger age. Being a young carer can be stressful and isolating, and can have a negative impact on education and other areas of life. As many as 2 in 3 young carers have been bullied at school, and 1 in 3 say their caring role makes them stressed.
Theo is only 10, but helps to look after his sister who has bipolar disorder. He gets support from Surrey Young Carers.
"I became a carer about three years ago because my sister has bipolar. She can get really angry sometimes and she can get really sad sometimes and I am there to cheer her up!
I find it hard when I don't know if my sister is going to get angry or sad but Surrey Young Carers have helped. It's always good to come here if you need some space away from all the drama.
The good things about being a carer are that I get different sides of my sister and how she grows stronger.
If you have a stressful time at home, come to Surrey Young Carers groups because the staff are kind and you can have private chats too."
https://www.actionforcarers.org.uk/stories/theos-story/
The Berkeley Group head office in Cobham has been supporting Surrey Young Carers for the past three years, organising fundraising events such as skydiving, mountain climbing and an annual bake off, but also helping with CV workshops and local events.
St George also supports the Honeypot Children's Charity, which is another organisation aimed at helping young carers.
Young Carers Awareness Day 2020
30th January 2020
