Edinburgh Young Carers

Edinburgh Young Carers is a voluntary organisation working with and on behalf of young carers throughout the Edinburgh region.

It was established in 1994 as a community development project in North East Edinburgh, and with support from the local authority and National Lottery Charities Board expanded in 1996 to provide support to young carers from across Edinburgh. It became incorporated as a not-for-profit Company Limited by Guarantee in 2000.

It is managed by a voluntary Board of Directors and employs a Head of Service, eight members of staff and sessional workers.

Edinburgh Young Carers is one of the most well-established and largest organisations in Scotland dedicated to working with and supporting young carers.

Edinburgh Young Carers works with young people aged 5 to 25 years old who care for or are affected by someone else at home - usually a parent or sibling.

The person they care for may suffer from:

- Mental health problems
- Disability
- Chronic ill-health
- Drug and alcohol misuse

Caring responsibilities can affect a young person:

- EMOTIONALLY - Putting other people’s needs first, being worried, anxious or stressed. Feelings of guilt, anger, being trapped, isolated and being misunderstood.
- PHYSICALLY - Suffering from pains or strains from heavy lifting or helping someone to wash or dress.
- SOCIALLY - Not able to meet up with friends regularly. Feeling isolated and lacking confidence. A possible target for being bullied.
- EDUCATIONALLY - Difficulties concentrating in class, feeling tired, worried, with no time to do homework.
- FINANCIALLY - Low family income. Not having enough money for basic needs.

Most young carers go unnoticed or unrecognised, until there is a crisis.

Often, family members do not want people outside the home to know that someone is ill. They may fear that the family could become separated.

The level and type of care undertaken by a young carer varies according to their individual circumstance.