A carer is an individual who provides unpaid assistance and support to another person who cannot manage without their help. This may be due to age, disability, physical or mental illness, or addiction.
A young carer is someone who falls into this category and is either under the age of 18 or has turned 18 but still attends school.
Dundee has a policy outlining the commitments to support young carers in schools. This policy should be made available to all identified young carers.
A leaflet summarising the key points outlined in the policy can be downloaded below – or ask your Young Carer Coordinator or Dundee Carers Centre Worker for a copy.
Download Are You a Young Carer?
The types of support vary in each school but can include a dedicated information board for young carers, a regular peer support group for young carers, peer education opportunities and regular information or awareness-raising sessions.
As a young carer, you are also entitled to a young carer statement which is an individual plan outlining the support a young carer should get.
For more information on young carer statements, please go to the young carers statements section.
We have created an e-module for staff working in schools, social work teams, and staff that have a general role in supporting young carers.
Every primary and secondary school in Dundee has a Young Carer Coordinator who is responsible for making sure that young carers are identified and receive support.
The Young Carer Coordinator is a member of staff and can be a Guidance Teacher, School & Family Development Worker or a Pupil Support Worker – it is different in every school.
We have developed an online portal containing information about the support available for young carers in all schools throughout Dundee.
The portal holds information on key contacts within each school, including Young Carer Coordinator, Support worker, Young Carer Ambassadors plus events/groups that are running.
Dundee Carers Centre has a named member of staff responsible for linking with every primary and secondary school in Dundee.
This worker will be able to visit all primary schools, and in the case of secondary schools, will usually be based in the school for at least one day per week.
They also work closely with school staff to ensure that relevant awareness-raising, drop-in support and group opportunities are available to young carers.
Young Carer Ambassadors are young volunteers who give their time to raise awareness of young carers in their school and community, including young carers rights and the supports available to them.
They work alongside Dundee Carers Centre staff and Young Carer Coordinators to develop tailored opportunities to identify and support young carers within their school community.
Dundee Carers Centre are currently working on a locality page, where you will be able to see who can contact for support in your school. Check back later for further updates.
Young Carers worked with staff and pupils at Braeview Academy, alongside Dundee Carers Centre Staff, to develop resources for use in Social Education classes in Secondary Schools. These packs aim to raise awareness and understanding of young carers, and can also be used in youth work settings.
Download the resource pack here:
Primary schools can also contact Dundee Carers Centre for a resource pack for running a social group for young carers in their school. Please call 01382 200422 for more information.
Young carers have the right to a Young Carers Statement, which is a plan to make sure young carers get the support they need.
A Young Carers Statement starts as a conversation between the young carer and an adult of their choice. This is usually their worker from Dundee Carers Centre or a staff member from their school. In Dundee, there is a workbook designed in collaboration with young carers to support this discussion.
If the young carer already has a Child/Young Person’s Plan as part of a Team Around the Child process, their plan will be reviewed and information from the Young Carers Statement will be added to it.
Download Young Carer Workbook for Primary Years
Download Young Carer Workbook for Secondary Years
Download Young Carer Workbook for Secondary Years (Alternate design)
The young carers statement will identify your individual outcomes and what matters to you such as:
This guide provides a more detailed overview of what is involved in the process of producing a young carers statement.
Download Young Carers Support Guide
If you would like a young carer statement either contact the Young Carer Coordinator at your school or your local Dundee Carers Centre Worker or phone Dundee Carers Centre and ask to speak to a member of the Carer Support Team. If you or your family are already working with the Children & Families social work team, they will be able to assist you with a Young Carer Statement.
Support to young carers is part of the Getting it Right for Every Child approach in Dundee, which improves outcomes and supports the wellbeing of children and young people by providing the right support at the right time.
For more information on GIRFEC in Dundee please go to www.dundeeprotectschildren.co.uk
There are people and organisations across Dundee who can help you if you are a young carer. Support is available from a number of organisations who work with carers specifically, people who are affected by health conditions or run activities that may be of interest to you.
In addition if you are not in school Dundee Carers Centre works closely with D&A College, alongside Young Carer Ambassadors, and provides a range of support in partnership with student support services including a regular peer support group and a transition programme for carers planning to attend the College.
CAHMS Website was created for young people, carers and professionals to pool together lots of helpful resources from across the internet that are available to help support young people’s mental health and well-being.
National entitlements include the Young Scot Young Carer Package which is available to all young carers who have a Young Scot Card.
This package is always being updated but includes digital vouchers for entertainment, food and other opportunities; enhanced discounts on study guides and clothing and training opportunities.
Young Carers aged 16, 17 and 18 in Scotland are also able to apply for a Young Carer Grant of £305.10. For more eligibility information and how to apply please follow this link.
If you would like more information on the opportunities outlined on this page, or support to access them, speak to your school Young Carer Coordinator or contact the Carer Support team on 01382 200422.
Dundee Carers Centre provides support to carers of all ages aged 8+. Workers are based in localities and linked to schools in those localities and can provide support to young carers in school, in the community and one to one or groups.
To find out who your locality workers are, and the support available please follow this link to the Dundee Carers Centre website or contact the Carer Support team on 01382 200422.
We have launched our official Young Carers Action Day webpage for next year’s date, plus an overview of last year’s event.
Even if you already have a National Entitlement Card or Young Scot National
Entitlement Card, you must apply for a new or replacement card to travel by bus for free. Parents or guardians must provide approval for children aged between 5-15 to access the scheme by applying on their behalf. Young people aged 16-21 should apply themselves.
The Transport Scotland website provides all the information needed to apply.
There are two ways to apply:
