Young carers

What support is there for younger carers?

You can create a personalised Information Pack for carers on our ‘One Link’ site

Isle of Wight Young Carers Project

The Isle of Wight young carers project aims to support children and young people under the age of 18 whose lives are in some way restricted because of the need to take responsibility for the care of a parent or relative who may be affected by chronic illness, a learning difficulty or serious disability, periods of mental ill health of substance misuse. The project will also support a child or young person who is caring for their own child or siblings, in conjunction with other services.

The Project aims to:

Ensure young people with significant caring responsibilities have access to the service;
Work with the young people, their families and other agencies;
Recruit/train potential volunteers to work with the young people;
Put young carers in touch with others in similar circumstances;
Develop self-help support groups;
Enable young carers, if they wish, to access services currently available within their locality;
Facilitate opportunities for young carers to have time for themselves away from caring responsibilities;
Obtain the view of the young people on how best the project can support them and develop the project accordingly.

How can young people find out more, or ask to be included in the project?

Young people can contact the project directly by telephone, letter or email. Referrals can also be made by parents, professionals or other adults, on the young person’s behalf. However, both the parent and young person need to give their consent before registration to the project can be considered.

Young carers are also entitled to have their care needs assessed by a social worker.

Useful information

Project co-ordinator: Heidi Kurowska
Telephone: (01983) 521590 (24-hour answer-machine after office hours)
Email: IOWyoungcarers@aol.com
Address: 17b Riverway, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5UX

Getting Information, Help and Advice

You can create an information pack for carers including local support and advice services at our ‘One Link’ website, Click here.


		Young Carers Project Project co-ordinator: Heidi Kurowska Telephone: (01983) 521590 (24-hour answer-machine after office hours) Email: IOWyoungcarers@aol.com 17b Riverway, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5UX

		Carers UK is a national charity that provides information and advice to carers and campaigns on their behalf. To visit the Carers UK website Click here.

		Carers UK Isle of Wight Branch The branch gives information and support to anyone who is caring for a family member, partner or friend on an unpaid basis. There are support groups meeting in most towns on the Island. Tel. 01983 533173 The Riverside Centre, The Quay, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 2QR

		NHS Choices website has a section dedicated to carers called Carers Direct Carers Direct offers a section exclusively for young carers To visit the young carers site Click here

		Directgov website has a section dedicated to young carers which provides information, advice and support. To visit the Directgov for carers Click here

Updated 18/3/09

Page last updated on: 09/06/2009