Frequently asked questions

Q: Can young carers make contact with Willow directly?

A: Yes, we really like to hear directly from young people. If you telephone the service a Young Carers Worker can talk to you about your situation and ask you what kind of support may be useful to you. If you then wanted to meet up with a Young Carers Worker we could arrange a meeting.

Q: Does my parent need to know if I am meeting with you?

A: If you did not want your parent to know about meeting with us, and you are under 16, we would only be able to meet with you in school. We could also offer you support over the telephone and by email.

Q: Do I have to pay for any trips or activities I go on?

A: Most trips and activities we organise are free of charge.

Q: What if I don’t want to be involved with Willow anymore?

A: That is fine – your meetings with us are totally your choice and you can stop your involvement whenever you like. Just tell a Young Carers Worker and they will end their work with you.

Q: Do all young people involved with Willow get the same help?

A: No – all young people involved with Willow get the kind and range of support that is right for them. Some young people need more support than others. We will always talk to you to find out what kind of support is right for you and will use the goal setting and review system to keep track of support.

Q: Can my friend join me on activities with Willow?

A: We have been specifically set up to support young carers so we cannot include other young people in our activities.

If your friend is a young carer ask them to make contact with us and we can see how we can best support them.

Q: Will I be able to go on trips and days out with Willow?

A: Yes, we organise day trips and outings during the school holidays, such as bowling, trips to theme parks, the cinema and the seaside.

Sometimes we are able to organise longer trips away such as residentials.

Q: What if I do not want Social Care or my school to know I am a young carer?

A: That is fine – we will not talk to anyone about you unless you have said we can. The only time we would have to break that rule is if we believed you were in danger of being harmed.