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Assisted by Surrey County Council, NHS and Action for Carers, Woking Borough Council has signed up to the Young Carers Pledge to identify and help support young carers living in the borough.
The commitment coincides with Young Carers Awareness Day (30 January 2020) and recognises that there are over 14,000 young carers in Surrey.
A young carer is anyone under the age of 18 who cares for someone with a physical or long term illness. This may be a physical disability, frailty due to old age, a learning disability like autism, a mental problem like depression, or a drug or alcohol problem.
The Young Carers Pledge is a commitment given to young carers based on what young carers have told professionals means the most to them. Signing up to the pledge means that Woking Borough Council is committed to:
- See them and listen to what they have to say.
- Recognise that they have their own needs as the carer.
- Value their thoughts and opinions on how we take care of the person they look after.
- Create a welcoming and caring environment for them.
- Respect that they know a lot about the person they care for.
Cllr Colin Kemp, Woking Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, said: “One of the Council’s health and wellbeing priorities is to support all young and adult carers, to enable them to be part of their local community and as a result avoid feeling isolated.
“The Council is officially making this pledge to the young carers who live in our borough, and to complement this over 60 members of staff have received training to help them to stop the signs of isolation in young carers.
“One of the most important things we can do to help young carers is to signpost them to the resources, advice and information that is available to them, including Surrey Young Carers, who can offer help to young people with caring roles.”
Support for young carers is discussed by a steering group which meets six times a year and is committed to developing carer friendly initiatives, including how the council can embed the Young Carers Pledge within its way of working.
For more information contact Julie Mémé, the Woking Borough Council’s Home Independence Manager, on 01483 743412 or email julie.meme@woking.gov.uk