Last updated at 06:52, Friday, 29 January 2010

HUNDREDS of young people across West Cumbria, day in day out, week by week, year by year, care for vulnerable relatives, totally on their own.

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Charity West Cumbria Carers has about 150 young carers on its books, aged from five to 25.

But young carers project co-ordinator Deborah Vaughan said they were just the tip of the iceberg.

She said: “A lot of people don’t know that children are young carers. It’s something that only comes to light when there’s an issue at school or home. There must be hundreds of them in West Cumbria.

“I read a statistic that every class of 30 children would have one young carer but not know it. I think that’s conservative.

“We have five-year-olds on our books. If a parent has something such as MS or mental health problems children can start fetching and carrying almost as soon as they can get about.”

In the 2001 census, 9,908 people in Allerdale said they provided unpaid care, with 3,303 of those stating that they did so for more than 20 hours a week. The figures do not reveal their ages.

Three wards in Allerdale have an above average uptake of Carer’s Allowance – 3.6 per cent in Moss Bay, Workington, 2.9 per cent in Moorclose, Workington and 1.4 per cent in Ewanrigg, Maryport, compared with 0.6 per cent nationally.

Figures show that as many as 1,300 people in those three areas are carers, with 300 in receipt of Carer’s Allowance.

But children cannot claim the allowance and young carers aged 16-18, schoolchildren, are not eligible, so there is no way to identify them if they don’t seek help.

Deborah said: “It’s not as obvious as a lot of issues young people have. Young carers don’t recognise themselves as young carers, which makes it doubly difficult. They have often simply grown up in the role and to them it is just a normal part of their lives”

A-level student Lee-Anne Ross, 18, has spent the past five years as main carer to her mum Helen, 42, who injured her knee in a fall 11 years ago.

Helen’s mobility has reduced progressively; she cannot walk far, struggles with the stairs and cannot stand for long, making housework impossible.

She also has a degenerative bone condition.

Lee-Anne, of Needham Drive, Moorclose, gets up at 5.30am each day to help Helen get up before she goes to school.

She makes breakfast, makes sure Helen has a sandwich and flask of coffee to keep her going and checks that brother Nicky, 17, is getting up for college.

When she returns from Cockermouth School, where she is studying chemistry, maths and applied science, she cooks dinner, washes up and does the housework before completing her homework.

She also takes her mum shopping a couple of times a week, fetches prescriptions and does other tasks.

Her nights can be disturbed, listening out for her mum if Helen is having a bad night.

Lee-Anne said: “It’s really hard work but it’s rewarding at the same time knowing that I’m actually helping my mum. I have got into a routine now.”

When Lee-Anne began caring for Helen, the family did not know support was available and it was by chance that an occupational therapist mentioned West Cumbria Carers.

Since getting in touch Lee-Anne has built up a network of friends and support staff who she can talk to and spend time with.

She said: “It’s hard because I only go out occasionally with my friends because most of my responsibilities are here. At carers’ group a lot of people understand and have the same responsibilities or even more so it’s nice to talk to them.

“In summer I do activities with young carers and once a fortnight we have a youth group in Whitehaven and it’s nice to have friends who also have big responsibilities with parents or siblings.”

Helen said: “It’s been the best thing for her. Before she was like a little hermit. She didn’t see anybody or have a social life.

“West Cumbria Carers has given her the chance to go out and meet people and go to new places. It’s someone to talk to and emotional support as well.

“It took me a long time to admit that we needed help. I think it was guilt in the end, seeing how tired and worn out she was. It’s not something you ever want to ask of your kids.”

As well as providing support and fun activities, the carers’ group can offer practical help to take the pressure off during exams.

Lee-Anne hopes to go away to university in September to study nursing but she has plans in place for her mother’s care and the family know West Cumbria Carers will still be there if needed.

Lee-Anne said: “I don’t think I would have coped so well or had the ambitions I have now without the support of West Cumbria Carers.

“They have given me so much support and they could do it for many people. Even if you don’t take part in all the activities it’s good to know that there’s support if you need it.

“I have been helped a lot in the last five years by the various support workers and I feel I’m better because of it. It’s nice that they are doing this project so other people can get the chances I did.”

West Cumbria Carers, based in Maryport, has just employed community development worker Paul Caine to highlight its service.

He will work with other agencies and get involved in the community to identify carers who could benefit from the charity’s support.

But Deborah said the charity had limited means.

She would like to see official channels in place to give carers the same level of help offered to the people they care for without them having to seek it from charities.

More public money is also needed to help young carers, she added, as West Cumbria Carers receives some county council funding but relied heavily on donations could not cope if all the area’s carers came forward for help.

“I think if schools designated people who identified young carers that would help. We work closely with a lot of organisations including Connexions and other youth services but we could work more closely with a lot more,” said Deborah.

To find out more about West Cumbria Carers call 01900 810101.

First published at 19:25, Thursday, 28 January 2010
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk