Charity sets up online community for Scots carers to share experiences and make friends
Young carers in Scotland are less happy and more stressed and confused than non-carers of the same age, new research has found.
The charity Carers Trust compared survey results of over 800 eight to 15-year-olds from across the UK and found young carers were much more worried about money, bullying, exams and their families.
Worryingly, only 30% of carers from Scotland said they were happy compared to 87% of non-carers and 50% said they were confused compared to just 28% of non-carers.
Almost 40% of young carers said being a carer made them feel stressed and tired, though a similar number said they were also proud of their role.
Those surveyed included 350 young paid carers from carers’ groups around the UK surveyed by Carers Trust and a YouGov poll of 457 non-carers.
Babble is needed to combat the risk of isolation and to make sure these young people are as happy and supported as they can be
The research also revealed a quarter of young carers don’t have enough people to talk to.
Carers Trust has since launched a new website and online community for young carers to talk to others in a similar position.
Called Babble it is aimed at under 18s who want to share their stories and hear about each other’s experiences in a safe environment.
As well as the support and friendship young carers can find with each other, they will also have access to help and advice, email and chat sessions with the Carers Trust online support team who are all qualified youth and community workers or professionally qualified social workers.
Florence Burke, director of Carers Trust Scotland, said: “We know from what young people tell us that caring responsibilities can have a big impact on young carers’ mental wellbeing, and this survey really brings home the scale of the issue.
“This is also the first time we’ve been able to compare young carers’ feelings to other children and young people. It shows just how much Babble is needed to combat the risk of isolation and to make sure these young people are as happy and supported as they can be.”
