Young carers

A young carer is a person aged 18 or under who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member suffering from any of the following:

• A long-term illness/condition
• A physical or learning disability
• A drug or alcohol problem
• A mental health condition

The support provided by a young carer varies but typically it involves a combination of personal care (such as helping to dress or bathe them), practical care (such as cooking, cleaning, and shopping) and emotional care (such as talking through their concerns with them).

• are you between 6 and 18 years-old and living in Waltham Forest?
• do you help look after your parent, carer or a sibling because they are disabled, have emotional or mental health needs or drug/alcohol dependency?
• do you worry about the person you care for?
• does your family have problems with money, finding work or getting benefits?
• do you have less time than your friends to do things you enjoy?
• do you have difficulties at school or college?
• do you feel isolated or different from other young people around you?

We can help you to access:

• whole family support
• clubs and positive activities
• support with education, training, or employment
• school holiday activities
• residential breaks
• days out

We can also look for and get targeted intervention from our partner agencies and organisations if you have specific needs that require specialist support.

The Young Carers Programme offers young carers known to Early Help or Children Social Care, access to activities and opportunities, that provide them with respite from their caring role and responsibilities.

Young Carers Club 6 to 18 yrs.  (Term time)

An opportunity to meet up with other young carers to participate in activities, games, discussions, workshops, day trips, residential trips and more -accessible by invite only.

Community Transport is provided to pick up and drop off all attendee home. (subject to availability).

Duke of Edinburgh Awards 14 to 18 years

The Duke of Edinburgh scheme is available to young people from ages 14 to 24 years.  The Young Carers Programme will fully fund young carers' places. Leyton Sixth Form College facilitates the award.

What you need to know

You complete the award programme at 3 levels, bronze, silver and gold.  You start with bronze and work your way up. You select what sections you want to participate in, allowing the programme to contain activities that interest and motivate you

Sections covered as part of the Duke of Edinburgh award programme:

• Physical
• Skills
• Volunteering
• Expedition
• Residential (Gold only)

Boxing and Mindfulness with Mindful Peak Performance (MPP)

Mindful Peak performance are running free interactive boxing and mindfulness sessions online, providing young carers with the space to actively work on their physical fitness, and then take time to participate in mindfulness sessions to promote positive mental fitness.

To join this energy-filled movement and a relaxation session, register with Mindful Peak Performance direct to receive login details and password access.

Or telephone 0778 743 689

We make sure that you’re involved and play an active role in all decisions and in choosing the kind of support that you need to achieve your goals.

 We promise to:

• treat you with respect
• ask you directly about the support you need
• give you access to the information we hold about you and your family
• ask your views on the way that the project should involve you and how the project is run
• be sensitive to your culture, ethnicity and religion

If you identify a child or young person in Waltham Forest who may be a young carer that requires additional support, then please make a referral to us.

Please note the young carer being referred must be open to either Children Social Care or Early Help 0 to 19 to access the Young Carers Programme

• Young Carers self-identification poster (PDF)
• Young Carers Poster - opportunities (PDF)
• New YC MACA Form 2021 V1.2 (PDF)
• WF YC Consent Form V1 (PDF)
• EH Young Carers New Referrals and CSC Step Down to EH (PDF) 
• LBWF MASH referral form (Microsoft Word)
• LBWF young carers journey (PDF)

If you’ve got any questions or would like to find out how your child can be referred to the young carers programme, please get in touch with us.​​​