Frequently asked questions

Q. What happens if I don’t want my family to know I am in contact with young carers?

A. If you are under 16 we would be able to meet with you in school or talk to you on the phone. To get the full benefit of being involved with the project it would be better if your parents did know and we would talk to you about why it might be difficult for you to tell them.

Q. Who will know what we talk about?

A. What you talk about with the staff at the project is confidential unless we have your agreement to share it with someone else e.g. if we need to contact your school if you were being bullied or a social worker to get help for the person you care for. The only other reason would be if we were concerned that you or another young person could be hurt or harmed in some way and we would need to make sure you were safe. We would talk to you about this and tell you what was going to happen next.

Q. Whose decision will it be for me to get involved, will I have to wait and how long can I stay involved?

A. We will arrange to come and talk to you and your family about your caring responsibilities and how these affect you. We will also tell you about what the project offers and, if we have agreed you are a young carer, you can decide if you want to get involved and in what way. All young carers are different and we will talk about what kind of support is right for you and your family. Once you are involved you can make choices about the things you want to be included in and can stay involved with the project for as long as it is right for you as a young carer.

Q. Will I have to talk about my home situation straight away?

A. You will spend time with a member of staff getting to know each other. We know it can take some time for young people to feel able to talk about their home situation and we will only do this when you feel ready.

We will also spend time getting to know your family and they are welcome to visit the project if they would like to.

Q. Will the project help the person I care for?

A. Yes. Each family is different and we will talk to you and to your family about what support might be available to them and how we can assist them in getting the support they need. We would only do this with your family’s permission.

We can also help with getting and explaining information about your parent’s illness/disability if you want it.

Q. Does it cost anything to come to the project?

A. All the groups and activities are free and we pay your bus fares to get to the project. For those who cannot make their own way we will provide transport.

We try to make sure that when you come to the project there are drinks and snacks available. Sometimes when we go on trips you will need to bring a packed lunch.

Q. Can my friends or brothers or sisters come as well?

A. All the young people who come to the project are young carers and unless your friends or brothers and sisters are also young carers and have been offered a service, they are unable to come. We believe that it is important for young carers to spend time with other young people in similar situations to give them a break from their caring responsibilities and give them the chance to make new friends.