YOUNG CARERS TOOLKIT
We know that as a young carer, you may experience stressful situations and some strong emotions in response to your caring responsibilities
These emotions could include anxiety, stress, fear or low mood. It is important to understand that these are normal responses to have when faced with a difficult situation or demanding responsibilities.
Below, we have collated some useful links and sources of support, so that you can get the advice and help you may need as a young carer.
Young Carer Toolkit
We know that young carers caring responsibilities can impact them emotionally. Below, we have collated some useful links and sources of support to help young carers get the advice and help they need.
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
If you feel overwhelmed or are struggling to cope, this Crisis Messenger Service is free, confidential and offers 24/7 text message support service
Text: AFC to 85258
BEAT Youthline
Offering support to children and young people with an eating disorder:
Website and online chat: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/get-help-for-myself/i-need-support-now/helplines/
Phone: 0808 801 0711
ChildLine
The UK’s free, confidential helpline for children and young people, offering advice and support, by phone and online, 24 hours a day. Whenever and wherever you need them, they’ll be there.
Website and online chat: https://www.childline.org.uk/
Phone: 0800 1111
Hope Again
Provides advice for any young person dealing with the loss of a loved one.
Website: https://www.cruse.org.uk/get-support/
Phone: 0808 808 1677
Papyrus (Prevention of Young Suicide)
Provides confidential advice and support for young people who feel like they want to take their own life.
Website: https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
Phone: 0800 068 41 41
Text: 07786 209 687
Samaritans
Giving young people someone to talk to. You can ring at any time of the day or night. They’ll help you and listen to how you’re feeling.
Phone: 116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Shout
Provides free, confidential, 24/7 text message support in the UK for anyone struggling to cope. They can help with issues including suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, abuse, self-harm, relationship problems and bullying. A trained volunteer will listen and work with you to solve problems.
Text ‘Shout’ to 85258
A confidential helpline for young carers in the UK, aged 13 to 18 - and up to 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Opening hours (mainly in school time but some evenings too): Monday - 9.30 am to 7.30 pm, Tuesday - 9.30 am to 4.30 pm, Wednesday - 9.30 am to 4.30 pm, Thursday - 12.30 pm to 7.30 pm, Friday - 9.30 am to 4 pm.
Text 07888 868 059, Email:
Student Space
Provides support for students through Coronavirus. Help and guidance is available. You can also use their search tool to find the services available at your university.
Website and webchat: https://studentspace.org.uk/
Text: STUDENT to 85258
The Mix
The UK’s leading support service for young people. They offer support to help with any challenge children are facing from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from breakups to drugs. Talk to them via their online community, on social, through their free, confidential helpline or counselling service.
Website and online chat: https://www.themix.org.uk/
Text: THEMIX to 85258
Phone: 0808 808 4994
Young Minds Crisis Messenger
Provides free crisis support every day of the week, at any time day or night. All texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisors.
Website: https://youngminds.org.uk
Text: YM to 85258 (24/7) for urgent help
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
Provides support to children and young people, sharing clear, simple advice and resources. ‘On My Mind’ aims to empower young people to make informed choices about their mental health and wellbeing through advice, support, tips and self-care strategies.
Websites: https://www.annafreud.org/coronavirus-support/
and https://www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/
Text: AFC to 85258
BBC Bitesize
Offers support, advice and tips to children and young people on a host of topics including mental health, wellbeing, resilience, identity and healthy relationships.
Website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/collections/life-andwellbeing/1
Every Mind Matters
Offers expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing, including sleep, self-care, and dealing with change.
Website: https://www.nhs.uk/everymind-matters/
Kooth
Free, safe and anonymous online mental wellbeing community, accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. It includes: a magazine, discussion boards, messages or live chat with their team and a daily journal you can fill in.
Website: https://www.kooth.com/
Now and Beyond
The UK's first multidisciplinary directory for children and young people's mental health and wellbeing providers. Includes information about locally available services.
Website: https://nowandbeyond.org.uk/help-and-support
The Think Ninja
This freely available app educates children and young people about mental health and emotional wellbeing and provides skills young people can use to build resilience and stay well.
Download App: https://www.nhs.uk/appslibrary/thinkninja/
Young Minds
Offers online information on COVID-19 and mental health for children and young people.
Website: https://youngminds.org.uk
Text: YM to 85258
Carers Allowance
Carers allowance is for young carers who meet the following criteria:
- you look after someone who gets a qualifying disability benefit
- you look after that person for at least 35 hours a week
- you are aged 16 or over
- you are not in full-time education
- you don’t earn over £128 a week (after deductions)
- you satisfy UK presence and residence conditions
Note: The Carers Allowance can impact other benefits the person who is being cared for is claiming
Details on how to apply can be found on the Carers UK website.
Turn2us
Turn2us is a national charity providing practical help to people who are struggling financially. Find out what support you can get if you're finding it hard to make ends meet.
Tackling Financial Insecurity Together | Turn2us
PIP Payments
These are not necessarily for young carers, but they are for the people they care for who meet the following criteria:
- a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
- difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition
Details on how to apply for PIP payments can be found here:
Personal Independence Payment - Citizens Advice
Leonardo Trust
Leonardo Trust can help young carers who meet the following criteria:
- An unpaid carer who lives in Dorset
- An unpaid carer who is caring for a sick or disabled relative or friend
- The carer who is caring for a substantial amount of their time
- A carer doesn’t have to be registered with social services
- A carer receiving/not receiving benefits
- A carer with/without savings
They can help with the following:
- Respite breaks & short holidays
- Cash crisis donations up to £300
- Home services (ironing, gardeners, maintenance and repairs)
- Home improvements
- Tuition fees for external educational learning or training courses
- Domestic Appliances
- Installation of access equipment
- Social and leisure activities
- Public events
- Professional services
- Any aspect of a carers life deemed suitable by the Trustee
More information can be found here:
The Leonardo Trust – Lean on Leonardo
To apply for the grant, use the form below, which MYTIME can help with if needed:
Individual Grant Application On-line Form – The Leonardo Trust
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
Provides support to children and young people dealing with loss and bereavement and signposts to bereavement organisations and local support.
Websites: https://www.annafreud.org/
and https://www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/dealing-with-loss-and-bereavement/
Text: AFC to 85258
Hope Again
A safe place where children and young people can learn from other young people how to cope with grief, and feel less alone.
Website: https://www.cruse.org.uk/get-support/supporting-children-and-young-people/cruse.org.uk/get-help/for-parents
Phone: 0808 808 1677
The Childhood Bereavement Network
Provides content specific to COVID19 with a hub for professionals supporting bereaved children.
Website: https://childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk/
01258837071
Anti-Bullying Alliance
A unique group of organisations and individuals, working together to achieve their vision to stop bullying and create safer environments in which children and young people can live, grow, play and learn. They provide expertise in relation to all forms of bullying between children and young people.
Website: https://www.antibullyingalliance.org.uk/tools-information
ChildLine
Offers a designated page for bullying issues that includes a new video about building up your confidence after bullying.
Website and online chat: https://www.childline.org.uk
Phone: 0800 1111
Ditch the Label
A global youth charity, here to help young people aged 12 to 25 navigate the issues affecting them the most, from mental health and bullying to identity, Asian hate crimes and relationships.
Website and online forum: https://www.ditchthelabel.org/
Kidscape
Offers advice and practical tips on dealing with bullying and cyberbullying and ways for young people to build their confidence.
Website: https://www.kidscape.org.uk/advice/advice-for-youngpeople/
Young Minds
Offers online information and advice on bullying for children and young people.
Website: https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/feelings-andsymptoms/bullying/
Text: YM to 85258
Switchboard LGBT+
This helpline is a safe space for anyone to discuss anything, including sexuality, gender identity, sexual health and emotional well-being. They help people to explore the right options for themselves through support on the phone and through email and instant messaging service. Website and web chat: https://switchboard.lgbt/
Phone: 0300 330 0630
Email: chris@switchboard.lgbt
Educational Action Challenging Homophobia (EACH)
Offering advice and support online and through their freephone Helpline for children experiencing homophobic, biphobic or transphobic bullying or harassment.
Website: http://each.education/homophobic-transphobic-helpline
Phone: 0808 1000 143 open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm
Mermaids
Offering free and confidential phone and web-chat services, designed specifically to support trans, gender diverse and non-binary students. This is open to young people aged 18 to 25, and is available 9am to 9pm, Monday to Friday.
Website and web-chat service: https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/me rmaids-student-space/
Phone: 0808 8010 424
Educational Action Challenging Homophobia (EACH)
Offers advice and support online for children experiencing homophobic, biphobic or transphobic bullying or harassment. They are open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm.
Website: http://each.education/homophobic-transphobic-helpline
Phone: 0808 1000 143
The Proud Trust
A life-saving and life-enhancing organisation that helps LGBT+ young people empower themselves, to make a positive change for themselves, and their communities.
Website: https://www.theproudtrust.org/
Every Mind Matters
Offers expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing, including sleep, self-care, and dealing with change.
Website: https://www.nhs.uk/everymind-matters/
Teen Sleep Hub
Offers advice, support and tips on achieving a good night’s sleep.
Website: https://teensleephub.org.uk/teens-young-people/
Teens Young Minds
Offers online information, advice and tips for children and young people having issues with sleep and how to get help.
Website: https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/feelings-andsymptoms/sleep-problems
Text: YM to 85258
BBC Bitesize offers support, advice and tips to children and young people on starting primary school, secondary school and options for college and university.
Websites: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/collections/startingprimary-school/1
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/tags/zh4wy9q/startingsecondary-school/1
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/collections/college-andapprenticeships/1
Charlie Waller Trust
Offers support, advice and tips for young people starting sixth form, college and university.
Website: https://charliewaller.org/student
Every Mind Matters
Offers expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing, including sleep, self-care, and dealing with change.
Website: https://www.nhs.uk/everymind-matters/
Student Space
Provides support for students through coronavirus. Help and guidance is available. You can also use their search tool to find the services available at your university.
Website and webchat: https://studentspace.org.uk/
Text: STUDENT to 85258
The Mix
Offers advice and support for young people returning to university after lockdown.
Website and online chat: https://www.themix.org.uk/work-and-study/studentlife/what-will-student-lifebe-like-this-year37764.html
Text: THEMIX to 85258
Phone: 0808 808 4994
Young Minds
Provides advice on how young people can look after themselves whilst being at university. Website: https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/looking-afteryourself/looking-afteryourself-at-uni/
Text: YM to 85258
Barnardo’s See, Hear, Respond
This programme focuses on finding and reaching out to vulnerable children around the country who are experiencing negative impacts on their health and wellbeing, as well as those at risk of harm.
Website: https://www.barnardos.org.uk/see-hear-respond
Everyone’s Invited
A movement committed to eradicating rape culture. Trigger warning for survivor testimonies: rape and sexual assault, abuse (physical, mental, emotional, verbal, sexual), eating disorders, self-harm, suicide or suicidal ideation, violence, child abuse and paedophilia.
Website: https://www.everyonesinvited.uk/
Make Our Rights Reality
A charity working for the rights of every young person to be able to get support when and where they need it. Through the Make Our Rights Reality movement, young people have set up the Our Minds Our Future campaign to demand young people’s right to mental health be met.
Website: https://makeourrightsreality.org.uk/
For more information or to get in touch with a member of our team directly, please contact: