What's happening with Young Carers in Fife

Are you a Young Carer?

Young carers look after parents, or brothers and sisters who are ill or have a disability which affects the whole family. Young carers may cook, clean, give medicines, and do many of the things that parents normally do. They worry, they get tired. Sometimes they miss out on school and fall behind. They miss going out with friends. In short, they take on the roles and responsibilities of adults and miss out on many of the experiences of childhood which others take for granted.

Being a young carer can be very lonely. Often, time is completely taken up doing tasks and there is no time for friendships. But sometimes it is because parents have illnesses such as HIV/Aids, or mental health problems, or there are brothers and sisters with learning disabilities and difficult behaviour. Young carers may want to keep these things to themselves, or worry about being taunted, bullied and stigmatised.

Fife Young Carers is an organisation which represents the young carers of Fife. They run groups for young carers all over Fife to allow them to make new friends and give them time out from their caring role. They can provide help and support on an individual basis including practical advice and information, emotional support, help getting assistance for the young carer and their family when more help is needed, help with school, getting into further education and/or finding a job. Fife Young Carers employs five members of staff, Ingrid von Arnim, Manager, the three young carer support workers listed below and an admin worker.

For more information, or to make a referral contact your local young carers support worker:

Kay Templeman (East and Central Fife) Mobile: 07717 702062

Rose Davis (West Fife) Mobile: 07717 702061

Or contact the office at:

The Roundhouse, Priory Campus, Kirkcaldy, KY1 2QT

Telephone: 01592 223893/1 Email: admin@fifeyoungcarers.co.uk

 

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers in Glasgow has brought out a very useful Good Practice Guide for those working with young carers, anyone wanting a copy should contact Ruth Clark at the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, telephone Glasgow 0141 221 5066.

 

Updated: 24/01/08