Health Trust launches web page for young carers

Service users young and old want to have up-to-date information in an interactive format. And the Trust believes the new Facebook page will provide an appropriate mechanism to communicate with young carers.

It is hoped that young carers living in the Northern Trust area will ‘like’ the page and be able to receive regular updates in their newsfeed.

The page contains up-to-date information about all that is going on throughout the Northern Trust for young carers, including new services, events and good news stories.

A young carer is someone aged 18 or under who helps to look after a relative who has a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem.

The majority of young carers look after one of their parents or care for a brother or sister. They do jobs in and around the home, such as cooking, cleaning, or helping someone to get dressed and move around.

There are 281 young carers living in the Northern Trust area who provide care to a loved one with an illness.

Anne Cummings, Carers Co-ordinator at the Northern Trust said: “Caring by its nature is often demanding and stressful and the aim of the Facebook page is to provide a source of information for young carers to access.

“Young carers can often be the only ones in their circle who have to care for a family member. They also don’t get opportunities to interact socially so this Facebook page will provide opportunities to interact with other young carers in a similar situation and share experiences and concerns.

“We’re very excited to begin using Facebook in a way that goes above and beyond our normal methods of communication.

“It is hoped that the information given will help young carers identify their needs, stimulate discussion and provide them with details of support available to them.”

For more information check out the Northern Health and Social Care Trust Young Carers Facebook page.