"...because Carers count..."

Surrey Young Carers

Surrey Young Carers Project is managed by Action for Carers. Surrey Young Carers Project is constantly expanding and aims to promote the needs of young carers in all child care and adult settings. The project receives funding from Adult and  Community Care services, the Carers Grant, and Children Fund and the Learning and Skills council.

The project was started in 1996 and since then has grown in staffing numbers as more young carers are identified and referred to the project.

The project:

• Supports young carers (up to the age of 18) in both an individual and group setting around issues of caring.

• Provides and advocacy service for young carers.

• Works with young carers to enable them to achieve their full potential as young people.

• Raises awareness and promotes the needs of young carers within a multi-agency setting.

Surrey Young Carers Project offers free impartial information and support to young carers.

The project offers:

• A full assessment of the needs of individual young carers, which includes discussion on interests and aspirations (this does not replace the statutory Young Carers Assessment)

• An individual agreed action plan

• Young Carers Groups

• Information and advice on an individual and family basis

• A chance to meet other young carers

• Short term breaks for young carers

• Issue based workshops

• A schools project which works within primary and secondary schools in the West of the County. PHSE lessons, teacher training, individual and group sessions with other young carers.

• Individual grants to enable young carers  to try activities they are otherwise unable to try.

• A young carers website.

• Awareness raising sessions with both statutory and voluntary agencies.