Include quiz

The Children’s Society Include Project

Young Carers Quiz, October 2010

The Include Project

The Include Project

The Include Project

Young Carers QuizPrepared by Toni-Marie Smith Development Worker,The Children’s Society,

True or False?

There are approximately 125,000 young carers in

the UK?

False

The 2001 Census has shown there are approximately 175,000 young carers in the UK

True or False?

More girls are young carers than boys?

True

56% Girls

44% Boys

True or False?

35% of young carers live in lone parent families?

False

56% of young carers live in lone parent families

True or False?

About 1/5 of young carers care for someone

with mental illness?

False

About a 1/3 of young carers care for a person with mental illness

True or False?

There are between 10,000 – 15,000 children of problem drug users?

False

There are between 250,000 – 350,000 children of problem drug users

True or False?

1 in 5 refugees have a physical health problem severe enough to affect

their lives?

False

1 in 6 refugees have a physical health problem and two thirds have experienced significant anxiety or depression.

True or False?

20% of young carers miss school?

True

Between 13 % of primary school age & 27 % secondary age are still experiencing some problems at school

Who are young carers?

“Young carers are children and young persons under 18 who provide, or intend to provide, care, assistance or support to another family member. They carry out, often on a regular basis, significant or substantial caring tasks.”

Becker, S. (2000) ‘Young Carers’, in Davies, M. (ed.) The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Social Work

Who are young carers?

“A young carer becomes vulnerable when the level of care-giving and responsibility to the person in need of care becomes excessive or inappropriate for that child, risking impacting on his or her emotional or physical well being or educational achievement and life chances”

ADASS/ADCS MOU 2009Key Principles 2008

What do young carers do?

• Physical care such as lifting, helping a parent on stairs and physiotherapy

• Practical tasks such as cooking, housework and shopping

• Personal care such as dressing, washing, helping with toileting needs. Giving medication

• Managing the family budget, collecting benefits and prescriptions.

• Looking after or “parenting” younger siblings.• Giving emotional support• Interpreting

What are the impacts?

• Feeling different• Being bullied• Not enough time for homework• Behavioural problems / isolation• Additional stress / depression / self harm /

WORRY• Not able to access school activities (after

school)• Underachievement• Aspirations and careers could suffer• ABSENTEEISM