Portsmouth City Council
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Young Carers
Young carers have the same rights as other carers under the NHS and Community Care Act 1990. They can also be considered "children in need" under the Children's Act 1989 depending upon whether or not the local authority considers the child's caring role as preventing him/her from achieving or maintaining a reasonable standard of social opportunities and achieving full school attendance.
Young carers are children and young people who are the main carers of a sick or disabled parent or sibling. Estimates of the number of young carers in the UK vary between 15,000 and 50,000.
Young carers face serious caring responsibilities. In addition to the daily tasks they complete for their parents such as housework, cooking and bathing, they live with the added pressure of school and, often, a lack of understanding from schoolmates. The physical and emotional strain is sometimes too much - many skip school and suffer depression.
If you are a carer under the age of 16 years who is providing care, including secondary care, to a vulnerable adult over 18 years you should contact the Carers Centre in Orchard Road on 023 9285 1864.
Young Carers Project
This project offers young carers and their families support information and advice.
The service provides recreational respite, advocacy, a befriending service and therapeutic support to young people who have caring responsibilities for a relative with a long-term illness or disability.
The Young Carers Project is somewhere that young Carers can go to for:
- Individual advice and support
- The opportunity to meet other Carers
- Regular trips and activities
- Newsletter
- A Young Carers Pack
The Young Carers pack contains helpful information on:
- Assessments
- Help with money
- What to do in an emergency
- Disability and illness
To join the project please contact Portsmouth Carers Centre on 023 9285 1864.
Young Health
We hope the information here will help with any issues you may have over health conditions and staying well.
For an A-Z listing of teenage health conditions ranging from Alcohol to Zits and a 'what to do' guide contact http://www.teenagehealthfreak.org/
On this site there's also a virtual surgery connection which includes topics on:
- What's legal at what age?
- Emergency Room
- Not feeling Well?
- Drugs and Alcohol
- Weight and Eating
- Body changes - girl/boy
- Moods
If there's something you can't find the answer to, the site allows you to email an on-line doctor with your health question http://www.dr-ann.org/
Other health sites worth having a look at are:
www.bbc.co.uk/health/kids
Information from the 'beeb' on Body Matters and Mind Matters. Take a body tour to discover how your body works. There are also some fun and games for a bit of light relief.
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
The NHS has a health encyclopaedia covering a wide range of topics. There's a self-help guide and a Healthy Living section too.
Mental Health
If you're worried about things and not sure who to talk to, then there are organisations offering help:
Young Minds
102-108 Clerkenwell Road
London, EC1M 5SA
Telephone: 020 7336 8445
Do you feel really down? Are you concerned about harming yourself? Have you been sexually abused? Do you know of someone else with a mental illness?
Now and again it's OK to feel low, stressed, worried. But if those feelings don't go away and begin to affect your day-to-day life, then you will probably need to seek help.
Young Minds is a charity for young people committed to improving your mental health. It will explain what might be causing your problem and offer guidance about what to do next. The website also provides an A-Z of links to other organisations for specific problems.
Mind offer a ' Young Person's Introduction to 'Mental Health'. Information includes the meaning of mental health and mental illness plus there are sections on understanding certain types of mental health conditions for example depression, eating problems, obsessions. A separate section has been devoted to 'Young Carers' relating to their 'Fears and Concerns'.
Useful Contacts
Carers Information
Click on Carers Profiles to find a list of links that may be of use to you.
Carers National Association Line
Offers free help to every Carer including children and young people
Childline
For Young People wishing to speak about their problem. Telephone 0800 1111 for confidential counselling.
Children's Society
For young Carers, their families and those who work to support them across the UK
Connexions
A service for 13 to 19 year olds on education, training, employment, leisure activities and personal matters
Cruse
For those who have lost someone close to them
Drugscope
For any questions relating to drug use
Kidscape
Information and support to young people being bullied.
MIND
Help for young people with mental ill health
Samaritans
A 24-hour confidential telephone service for anyone in despair
Shelter
Shelter is a national housing advice service.
Vois
A Young Peoples website where young people can have their say
