Young Carers
If you’re a young carer you want to know all you can about how you can help the person you’re looking after. It’s important you get the right advice and support – and ensure you have time for school, college or work and a social life.
For general advice, try these local contacts
Young Carer's Project
Young Carers projects can help you with your caring and give you advice about handling money and your education. They'll also make sure you have access to groups where you get time to yourself and meet other young people in a similar situation.
The East Renfrewshire Carers' Project has services for young people
Email: eastren@carers.net
Tel: 0141 638 4888
Address: The Gatehouse, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock,G46 6UG
Your doctor
Doctors will keep whatever you tell them in complete confidence.
This means you can talk to them if you're worried about the person you're caring for or your own health. It's OK to admit you're stressed! See our list of Local Doctors.
Social Workers
You can tell a social worker what type of help you need. They'll carry out what's known as an assesment , where they'll meet with you and you can talk about your situation. They'll then try to help as best they can.
You can take someone along with you to these meetings. If you don't have a relative or older friend that can help, you can get assistance from the Carer's Project or enlist help from an advocate. An advocate is someone who'll support you and aid you to get what you need.
Partners in Advocacy are there to help young people aged under 19. See our section on Advocacy to find out more.
Social Services are provided in East Renfrewshire by the CHCP. You can contact them through East Renfrewshire Council Customer First on 0141 577 3001
Teachers/Lecturers
It's a good idea to make your school or college aware of your situation. They should be considerate of what you're dealing with and undertstanding in situations where you may have had to hand work in late or have to leave a little early if you need to get home.
Information and advice online
The following websites are packed with useful information. They'll can help you find answers to your caring questions and some of the other tough things that life can throw at you.
CAPCIS
The Site
Young Carers Net
Ask the agony aunts a question and sign up ‘YCNet’, an online community where you can chat to other young carers and get advice from youth workers.
