Family Hubs host young carer support sessions

Young carers in Wolverhampton can now get support at their local Family Hub.

The City of Wolverhampton Council's Carer Support Team is offering weekly surgeries to give young carers and their families information and advice about the help available to them as they carry out their vitally important caring role.

Young Carers Project Worker Cassie Harvey will be available at Low Hill Family Hub from 3-5pm on Tuesdays and Graiseley Family Hub from 3-4.30pm on Fridays, with the service expected to be rolled out through all eight Family Hubs in due course.

Carer Support Team manager Lesley Johnson said: "The 2021 census showed that 900 young people in Wolverhampton considered themselves to be a young carer, but we believe there are many more young people who are in a caring role and are deserving of help and support so that they can carry it out to the best of their abilities.

"Our new young carer surgeries at Low Hill and Graiseley Family Hubs are a chance for young carers and their families to find out more about the help and support which is available to them, and we'd urge people to come along and have a chat with Cassie at their earliest convenience.

“The Young Carer Support Team can offer young carers a ‘carers conversation’ giving them the chance to speak to a carer support worker about their caring responsibilities and provide them with important information and advice, including details of social events and activities to give them a break away from their caring role.

"Cassie will also be spending time with staff at the Family Hubs to promote the young carer offer, and joint working in this way will enable us to support many more young carers and enable them to achieve their goals and ambitions."

A young carer is someone under the age of 18 who helps to care for someone within their family. This may be due to physical disability, mental health, learning disabilities, substance misuse, sensory impairments or any long-term illness or condition.

Young carers often take on adult responsibilities within the home which can affect friendships, relationships, learning and development, health, and wellbeing and future career choices.

Wolverhampton's Carer Support Team has been helping carers in Wolverhampton for over 20 years, providing practical information, advice and guidance, Carer's Assessments, benefits advice, emotional support, training and more. To find out more, call 01902 553409 or visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/carers.