Western Mail Column: Taking care of these youngsters

Deputy Social Services Minister Gwenda Thomas meets some remarkable and determined youngsters

I MET a remarkable group of young people who came to see me at the Senedd building in Cardiff last week.

Hannah S, Craig, Grace, Hannah J and Beverly are all young carers, who take responsibility for someone who is ill, disabled, elderly, experiencing mental distress or affected by substance use, or substantial responsibility for caring for a brother or sister.

They had each been chosen by young carers in projects across Wales to represent them and to present the views of young carers to the Welsh Assembly Government.

There are particular reasons for listening to young carers. They may be the person providing all of the care in the family or may also be helping someone else to provide the care.

And caring is not just about the things you can see – it is also about how the young carer feels or thinks because of their role.

The young carers I met came well prepared and they immediately presented me with a practical challenge. They asked me to write down on a piece of paper what I had done that day. But there was a catch.

As soon as I started, I was asked, “Please, could you get me a glass of water”. Then, “Please, could you pick that up for me”, “Could you open the window for me please?” I didn’t get very far with my assignment.

Of course, what they were demonstrating was how they have to fit their schoolwork in with the constant demands of their caring responsibilities.

It is no wonder that they may find it difficult to realise their full potential, and I was disappointed when they told me how, with some notable exceptions, many schools are still unaware of these issues or even that they have young carers on their registers. I intend to discuss this with colleagues.

We went on to discuss their report that highlighted the needs of young carers in Wales.
They had been thinking about how the National Assembly’s new legislative powers – for example the Vulnerable Children Legislative Competence Order or the legislation on carers’ rights proposed under the One Wales agreement – could benefit young carers in Wales.

They developed a 10-point action list for the Assembly Government to consider, and we agreed that I give them an initial response in June, during Carers’ Week.

Their suggestions included:

• Legal requirement for each local authority to provide dedicated young carer services;
  Information packs for professionals, including an all-Wales information pack collated and produced by the Assembly Government with young carers’ input;
• Compulsory core training on young carers to be included in social work degrees, teacher training and in nursing and other medical training;
• Free bus passes for young carers;
• Support for young carers to be included in school contracts;
• Funding to support workers to deliver awareness-raising training in schools and colleges;
• A nationally-recognised carer ID scheme;
• Support for young carers to continue to 25;
• Flexible respite care to be accessible for young carers;
• Health workers need to recognise the role of young carers and, where appropriate, involve and inform the young carer in the treatment of family members;
• The Assembly Government and other agencies need to listen and respond to young carers.
  Young carers play a vital role in our community facing serious responsibilities.

In addition to the daily tasks they complete for their parents, they live with the added pressure of school and, often, a lack of understanding from their schoolmates.

It is imperative that we listen to their opinions and concerns. As such I will be considering, with colleagues, all the points raised when I met the young carers and I will publish my response during Carers’ Week, as they asked.