Action for Family Carers partners with Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service to provide life-changing support for Young Carers.
There are an estimated 10,000 Young Carers in Essex – children and young people who help look after a family member with an illness, disability, mental health condition, or addiction. Many take on adult responsibilities spending long hours looking after someone at home who needs them – often at the expense of their own wellbeing, education, and childhood.
Young Carers often fly under the radar at school. One Year 8 pupil told us she spends much of her school day worrying about her mum’s pain, while another’s attendance has dropped significantly due to severe anxiety caused by caring for her dad.
Through our partnership with the Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service, Action for Family Carers is delivering vital support across Essex in schools right now – with a minimum of 200 Young Carers set to benefit from the programme by March next year.
The Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service, delivered by HCRG Care Group and Barnardo’s with the NHS, helps families access local health and wellbeing support across the county.
Our joint initiative is already making a significant difference to the lives of children and young people who take on caring responsibilities at home. Through targeted one-to-one support and school-based interventions, Young Carers are gaining the confidence, stability and guidance they need to thrive.
Action for Family Carers is helping Young Carers to:
Feel safer and more supported at home and at school.
Navigate major life transitions – including moving up a school year, starting secondary school and preparing for adulthood.
Improve their emotional wellbeing, particularly when their caring role leads to stress, anxiety or isolation.
As demand for Young Carer support continues to grow, this collaboration is ensuring that hundreds of young people across Essex have access to the understanding, encouragement and practical help they need at a crucial stage in their lives.
“Young Carers carry so much on their shoulders, often quietly. This partnership means we can step in earlier, especially in school where many feel at their most overwhelmed. Whether it’s helping a young person feel safer, supporting them through a big transition, or improving their emotional wellbeing, our role is to help them believe in their own future again. We’re incredibly proud to be working alongside the Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service to make that happen.” Jo Hotten, Young Carer Service Manager, Action for Family Carers
Action for Family Carers has been supporting unpaid carers of all ages in Essex for over 35 years and delivering dedicated Young Carer services since 2005. In the past year, 92% of Young Carers supported by the charity showed measurable improvements in wellbeing, confidence, or stress levels.
The charity works closely with schools, Essex Youth Service, the Child and Family Wellbeing Service, and other partners to ensure young carers receive consistent and long-term support.
For more information about Action for Family Carers and how to support their work with Young Carers, visit:
https://affc.org.uk/services/young-carers
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Notes to Editors:
About Action for Family Carers
Action for Family Carers is an Essex charity that has been supporting unpaid Carers for over 35 years. There are around 124,000 unpaid Carers in Essex, and over 10,000 of them are under 18. Many juggle caring with school, work or other responsibilities, often at the cost of their own health, wellbeing and opportunities in life.
AfFC believe unpaid Carers of all ages should be recognised, respected and valued, and have the chance to live their own lives too – not just care for others.
AfFC provide a wide range of practical and emotional support for carers in Essex including information, advice, coaching and counselling for Adult Carers, support in schools for Young Carers and regular Clubs for Young Carers in 8 locations across Essex. Day Care and Activity Groups for vulnerable older people provide Carers with a break
Whether you’re a Carer or someone working with them, Action for Family Carers is here to help.
Find out more at affc.org.uk or contact info@affc.org.uk
About Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service
The Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service helps families access local health services in the community. HCRG Care Group and Barnardo’s provide the service and the NHS.
You can access the service from family hubs and family hub delivery sites across Essex.
The service offers:
– health visiting including pre-birth contact, helping you as a parent, new baby review
– parenting support including help with breastfeeding and help with choosing childcare
– school nursing support for young people in schools and their families
– family health advice including substance misuse, nutrition, and maternal and infant mental health
– resilience and development support including helping parents get their child ready to start school, domestic violence and returning to work
– support for children and young people aged 5 to 19 including help with dental care, and physical, emotional or developmental problems
– support for young people up to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities
Visit Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service to find out more about the service and to find your nearest family hub or family hub delivery site.
