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Action For Children (NI Regional Young Carers Project) - Belfast Action For Children new

Contact Information

Address
Loughshore House, 10 Heron Road, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT3 9LE
Contact Person
Aisling Reynolds
Telephone Number
028 9046 0500
Email Address
Email
Web Address
Visit Website
Facebook
Visit Facebook page

Additional Information

What is a young carer?

There are many young people in Northern Ireland who care for someone else. If you are a young carer aged between 8 and 18 it's important that you get the support you need. A young carer is someone who has a substantial caring role for someone in their family. This means they take on more responsibility than other young people their age. While caring for a family member can be positive at times, it can also affect the young person’s development, in terms of their ability to get out and socialise with friends, their education or their health. It can be stressful and demanding at times.

Young carers may support a parent or a sibling. The cared for person could have a physical illness or disability, a learning difficulty, a mental health problem or an addiction.

Support for young carers

If you are a young carer, there is support available. Young Carers are entitled to an assessment of their needs. They are defined as Children in Need under current legislation and this means they are entitled to support from their local Trust. In the Belfast, South Eastern and Southern Trust areas the responsibility for completing these assessments and putting in place support is delegated to Action for Children.

What we do

We raise awareness, identify and provide direct support to children and young people who look after or help to look after someone in their family who is unwell or disabled, including children caring for parents who have mental health or substance misuse problems.

The direct support we provide includes:

  • Young carers needs assessment;
  • Personal support, advice and guidance;
  • Individual and group support;
  • Trips and activities during school holidays;
  • Help to access specialist services;
  • Help to access universal services such as leisure and youth services.

Action for Children support young carers living in Belfast, South Eastern and Southern Trust areas. Young carers, their families or professionals can contact the Service Coordinator, Aisling Reynolds on 028 9046 0500, email niyoungcarers@actionforchildren.org.uk or via the Facebook page - NI Youngcarers.

Sidekick: is a free and confidential helpline for young carers aged 13-18 in the UK.  Message us about anything that’s bothering you.

Sidekick




Available to Age Groups
8-18 years and 18-25 yrs
Category of Services
  • Carers
Areas covered
  • All of N Ireland
Method of Access (Referral)
  • Health Visitor
  • School
  • Self
  • Social Worker



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