Second career health and care insights event to support young carers

The second in a series of career health and care insights events to support young carers is being held by West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership (WY&H HCP) and will take place in Leeds on 21st  November and include representation from young carers from across Leeds and Wakefield.  In support of Carers Rights Day, the event will also encouraging providers from across the health and care system to pledge their support for carers.

The events, called ‘Couldn’t Care Less’, aim to show young carers how their skills can be transferred into exciting and varied roles in the health and care sector, supported by role models from across local business and the NHS.  The event will also be attended by young adult carers will be sharing their life experiences and reflections  in  how they made a successful transition from being a young carer and to adult carer.

There are around 260,000 carers living across West Yorkshire and Harrogate in Bradford, Airedale and Craven; Calderdale, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield.

This number includes thousands of young carers taking on a caring role from as early as six years old.  Often they are caring for parents who have long-term health conditions, mental health difficulties or experience alcohol and substance use and misuse.

A survey by Carers Trust found that 26% of young carers have been bullied at school because of their role - with 1 in 20 missing school as a result.

Young carers often have a whole raft of skills and experiences that make them well suited to a career in health and care. We want these workshops to provide a balance of inspiration and practical support to address the pressures experienced by young carers. This group of young people need to know that they can have a future in health and care and the steps to take in making this a reality.

In partnership with the Local Workforce Action Board, WY&H HCP has developed the programme to encourage more young people to consider the 350 different careers and opportunities available in the sector. Supported by health and care professionals, including a paramedic, emergency nurse consultant, physician associate; operating department practitioners and other roles in social care, digital/IT, communications and mental health nursing.

The role of carer can be demanding for anybody, but young carers in particular face challenges around education, training and employment, with many facing barriers to accessing their desired future careers. In working with West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership and its supporting partners to facilitate this series of motivational career insight events, we hope to help young carers understand the value of the important skills they have learnt through their caring roles and demonstrate how these skills can be transferred into important and fulfilling careers within the health and care sector.