A young carer is a person under 18 years of age who provides care to another person.

Care does not include volunteering or employment in care services, but it does include a young person providing practical support, personal care and/or emotional support to another person (usually a parent, but it can also be a sibling, grandparent or friend of the family) who may, for example, have a disability, serious illness, or needs that relate to old age or as a result of the misuse of substances.

Southampton has a dedicated service specifically designed to support young carers.  We work with No Limits to provide the Young Carers Service for a smooth transition into the adult carer support service where needed.

Further information on their support and other services that can support young carers is available below.  We have broken down the information to help you identify the right help to either inside or outside Southampton.

Young Carers in Southampton is a project in partnership with Southampton Mencap for children and young people aged 8-18 years old whose lives are affected by caring for an unwell or disabled family member.  

In Southampton estimated young carer population (2011 Census):
466 under 15; 1,612 aged 16-25

Risk factors for young carers:

  • School absence
  • Academic under-achievement
  • Social isolation
  • Physical and emotional ill-health

Critical success factor is working with other services e.g.

  • GP, mental health services, housing and sexual health support, substance misuse services
  • Partners and venues offering fun and respite e.g. sailing, flying, theme parks, sport, Hawk Conservancy, picnics in the park

Service provided:

  • Whole family approach
  • Developing National Young Carers in Schools programme across city
  • Regular groups delivering knowledge, skills, respite, fun and soft outcomes sessions
  • 1:1 support for those with high levels of need
  • Matching with volunteer befrienders to provide positive relationships
  • Signposting to other support services
  • Providing fun activities and access to opportunities

Contact: Toni-Marie Leaf, Service Manager for Inclusion and Participation
Phone: 023 8022 4224 Email: [email protected]

No Limits email: [email protected]

Website page: https://nolimitshelp.org.uk/get-help/young-carers-in-southampton-2/

If you are a young carer who doesn't know who to contact please contact us and we can make the referral for you. There is plenty of support available to you and the first step is as easy as making contact with us.

It is estimated there are 700,000 young carers in the UK; roughly this equates to [1 in 12] secondary aged pupils are a young carer. Source: Carers Trust

Services in Southampton

Services outside Southampton