Issue 1 Spring 2013 /
Newsletter
‘for Young Carers by Young Carers’
Young Carers are children and young people who help look after a family member, who is sick, disabled, has mental health problems, or is misusing drugs or alcohol. With many adult responsibilities, many struggle educationally. They can become isolated, with pressures at home, and little opportunity to enjoy a normal childhood. Where young people are helping to care fora brother or sister they will often be referred to as siblings or sibling carers.
Welcome to the first edition of Doncaster Young Carers Newsletter. It will keep you up to date with what we are doing as a service as well as news, events and information about young carer’s.
Young Carers are learning how their voices can make a long term difference by influencing policy and law.
Doncaster Young Carers Council in partnership with Doncaster Young Carers Service and Barnardo’s Parliamentary Officers are lobbying for improvements to be made relating to the Carers Identification and Support Bill and Children and Families Bill. We hope changes to these Bills will improve recognition and support for young carers and their families.
We are currently developing a Young Carers Card for Doncaster;this card will enable young carers to be recognised and gain additional support and in time hopefully will bring other benefits such as discounted activities. Further updates to follow.
Hi I’m Lauren and I have been asked to write this article because I am a member of Doncaster Young Carers Council and a newly elected member of Doncaster Youth Council. I was elected along with my fellow newsletter writer Robyn. During my first meeting I was very nervous about joining the council but after the first week, I really enjoyed it. As part of the Youth Council we went to a residential ‘up north’ at Richmond where we spent two days and one night, we spent this time chairing debates about issues related to young people. We also discussed what our aims and objectives should be for the year; we decided to focus on reinstating the ‘ChampionSportsPass’ for new young people. Currently people who have a card can use it to get discounts to leisure centres (such as The Dome) however no new people can request a card. We are trying to get this changed!
Lauren Lavery
Barnardo's is a charity
A way to help others
Replacing bad times with good
Nothing is impossible
All the staff are helpful
Responsible and caring
Delightful to meet
Obviously a good and helpful place
Sensational advice is always available
As a young carer about to start university, I was asked to write a piece about my experiences to show other young carers that if they are determined they can do anything, despite having a caring role. I also wanted to share how the skills we develop as young carers come in useful later on in life.
My name is Leeanne, when I wasaccepted at university I was 18 years old andhad been a young carer for five years.I was accepted for a social work degree.
When people hear you are a young carer they focus on the negative aspects of being a young carer.I would not be where I am today without being a young carer. The lessons and skills I learnt as a young carer will stay with me throughout my life. Being a young carer can prove quite difficult with balancing school and a social life with your caring role.
Some young carers may find it hard to fit in as they have more responsibilities and the people we care for can be dependent on us to help them. Throughout the time I had been doing my GCSE’s and A-Levels, Doncaster Young Carers Service gave me additional support and encouraged me to go to Uni. I found it difficult to manage deadlines for coursework, with the amount of care my Nan needed.
Nan and I lived on our own, on a few occasions she was taken into hospital in the early hours, I stayed with her until it was time to go to school for my exams. I thought of giving up because things were not going right, but Barnardo's would always reassure me that it was just a bad patch.
It took five attempts but I finally got a C in GCSE maths, I also passed the rest of my GCSE’s and received 3 A’s at A-level. I won the Doncaster Young Person of the Year and Spirit of Doncaster Awards for my community work and for saving my Nan’s life.
Every Young Carer will face obstacles, but it’s about being positive, overcoming them and never giving up.
Since going to print Leeanne has now almost completed her university degree and is currently a student Social Worker.
Leeanne Wilkinson
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We would like to dedicate the debut issue of Doncaster Young Carers Newsletter to the late ‘nana, Mary Linney’, whose granddaughter Leeanne Wilkinson, was former vice-chair of the Young Carers Core Committee and a young carer.
(Printed with the consent of Leeanne, with thanks)
The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of young carers and do not necessarily reflect those of Barnardo’s