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Name: | Carina Andrews |
Age: | 21 |
Year of the Fix: | 2014 |
Location: | South Gloucestershire |
Campaign: | To try to improve support for young adult carers |
People tend to understand the terms young carer and adult carer, but there’s a gap when it comes to those in between.
Young adult carers are people like me, who are aged between 18 and 25 and look after a loved one.
I’m working with a group of young people, who are concerned that support for those with caring responsibilities stops as soon as they turn 18.
It’s our view that at 18, the expectation is that because you’re now an adult you don’t require any additional help, but actually it’s a really crucial time in our lives.
We might be thinking about university, moving out, or forming relationships of our own.
My team and I are working with Fixers to help create a film to raise awareness of the challenges faced by young adult carers.
We’ve already set up a peer support group in our area, and are hoping our film will show others the benefits of networks like these.
Here is a list of Fixers helping me with this Fix:
Jody Davis | John Langley |
Stella Jelly | Natasha Turnbull |
Natalie Mitchell | Caroline Ratnett |
Leanne Stevens | David James Matthews |
Naomi Weare | Sophie Martin-Burrows |
Annie Cash |
Carers Support Centre
Keith Sinclair, Chief Executive of the Carers Support Centre, has helped with our Fixers project. He was interviewed to appear in our broadcast film.
Thanks also to my mum and dad, Joanne and Mike, for agreeing to be filmed for the broadcast piece.
November 2014
My local MP Kerry McCarthy supports our Fixers campaign! Here’s what she had to say:
‘I think Carina has done a great job in highlighting the issues young carers and young adult carers face, and the impact this has on their daily lives.
‘The film was, I thought, particularly poignant when it came to the subject of how young carers are often reluctant to tell other people about their family lives and their caring responsibilities, for example with the contribution from the young woman who said that she always had to make excuses to her friends about not being able to join them on nights out.
‘I can entirely understand why young carers don’t always want to talk about their family, or reveal the pressures on them at home, which is why it is so important that films like this are made.’
MP for Bristol North West Charlotte Leslie also supports our Fixers campaign and enjoyed watching our film. Here’s what she had to say about our Fix:
“Young carers are real unsung heroes – they do invaluable, and often unseen, work supporting those who most need it. This film was a fascinating insight into their lives and a reminder to politicians like me that they need our help as well as our admiration. I’m proud that one of my constituents was involved.”
MP for Bristol South Dame Dawn Primarolo has also seen our Fixers film and supports our campaign. Here’s what she had to say:
‘I am very pleased to offer my personal support to this project. The challenges facing many young carers are immense, as they deal with day to day issues of growing up plus the added responsibility of caring for a loved one.
‘It is essential that young carers hear loud and clear the message of the film “Tales of a Young Adult Carer” that they are not alone and that support is available.'
Fixers
'Ben'
Alexandra Garrick
Meghann
Shano
Jo Quinn
Macauley Collinson
Becky
Mary-Anne White and Lucy Wills
Liam Thomas
Chelsie Brown
Sam Womack
'Kate'
Ben Simms
Timothy Cranfield
Me and my friends want young people to know that calories aren't the enemy!
Shak & Natasha
Hannah Baker
Lauren Taylor