| Carers Forum Young Carers in Norfolk | Countywide | 26.02.2002 |
| A young carers service to offer 'younger' young carers an opportunity to join a young carers group with a range of social activities including trips to places they would otherwise not visit, thus promoting inclusion. |
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Y2-18
Young Carers Primary and Middle Schools Project
“It gives Young Carer a break from home, they are always on the end of the phone if any member of the family need to talk or advice. The Young Carers is a great project. I hope it carries on.” (Mother of Young Carer, July 2003)
Young Carers Primary and Middle Schools Project
‘Next we are going bowling and then Nando’s for tea. We get up to a lot of trouble at Flarers Carers!’ Young person’s comment on the Young Carers support group she attends, July 2006
Aims of the project:
1. Provide ongoing support, advocacy, time out, and access to cultural and leisure activities for all young carers, across Norfolk
2. Maintain and develop links with statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure young carers have access to services appropriate to their needs
3. Raise awareness within schools, statutory and voluntary agencies about young carers. This is vital because young carers are a difficult to reach group, and schools are often not aware of a young persons caring role
Date service started: September 2002.
The project
1. Awareness-raising about Young Carers in schools and amongst other statutory and voluntary agencies.
2. Young Carers are offered support: group outings and/or support groups.
3. A Young Carers Forum has been set up, to give young people a say in how the Project works
4. Signposting.
Children’s Fund Objectives
Target 1: Identifying Young Carers in Norfolk, and giving them relevant information and support
Target 2: Working with young people referred to us, to organize an initial home visit, and then on going support in the form of group attendance, or referral to another agency if our service is not appropriate
Target 3: To enable Young Carers to experience a similar range of leisure and cultural pursuits as other young people who do not have a caring role. This is to be achieved through group outings, attending Young Carer support groups with free transport provided where required, attending residentials, being a volunteer for the Young carers forum, and access to a network of social oppurnities
Work with Young Carers:
Small group outings with other Young Carers
Support groups with up to 20 Young Carers
Residentials for large groups e.g Alton Towers and Whitwell Hall camping
Larger group activities with other Young Carers projects e.g. Big Day Out at Pontins Summer Camp
Multi-agency intervention
Awareness raising:
Presentations to school staff and other professionals
Lessons and assemblies to children
Leaflets and posters distributed to all schools and local statutory and voluntary organisations
Website
Multi-agency working:
Young Carers Project Advisory Group
Norfolk Carers Multi-Agency Policy and Strategy Steering Group
Broadland Children’s Services Group
Norfolk Family Support Teams
Great Yarmouth Voluntary Sector Partnership
Child Protection Conferences and Core Groups
West Norfolk Carers Forum
Norfolk Children’s Fund area meetings
Liaison with many local statutory and voluntary organisations
Geographical coverage: The whole of Norfolk:
Schools working with
All Primary and Middle Schools across Norfolk, ranging from awareness-raising, liaising with schools about young carers and offering support to young carers in school.
Working with the other family members
Initial home visits for assessment
Sign-posting Young Carers not within our age remit to other Young Carer support groups
Sign-posting family members to other statutory and voluntary agencies for help and support that cannot be offered by the project e.g. regarding benefits, parenting classes, befriending, social services if not involved
Advocacy e.g. during school meetings regarding the Young Carers
Information regarding grants e.g. We Care appeal and community care grants
Referrals from
Schools
Self
Relatives of Young Carers
Other care advisors
Other Young Carers projects e.g. NCH, Crossroads
Norfolk Social Services
Norfolk Pupil Attendance Service
Mental health services – e.g. CPN, social worker
Voluntary agencies e.g. Nelson’s Journey
Health visitors and health practitioners at hospitals
Key Partners
Members of the Young Carers Project Advisory Group who meet quarterly to discuss and plan the delivery of services to Young Carers in Norfolk:
Norfolk Crossroads, Crossroads (England), Connect Club,Norfolk Social Services (Children and Families, Mental Health and Planning), NCH Kings Lynn, North Walsham and Thetford, Norfolk Youth and Community Service, Norfolk LEA, Connexions Norfolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney CONTACT, School Nursing Service, Norfolk Pupil Attendance Service
Setting up and running groups with Norfolk Pupil Attendance Service and YMCA
CONTACT DETAILS:
Tel: 01603 219924. (Laura Feeney)
Email: admin.cforum@freeuk.com
