Some young people look after one or both of their parents. It can feel good to help them, but there might be things that worry you or stress you out as well. If the caring that you do affects your school work or causes you problems, your family might be able to get help so that you don’t have to do as much. A Young Carers Project will help if there is one near you. You could ask a social worker to help you decide what help you need by giving you an assessment.

You can find out more about the illness or problem that your parent has by looking through this section. Also, you may like to look at this young carers photo story by photographer Kyna Gourley, which was featured in Marie Claire magazine.

If your parent has an illness, disability or drug/ alcohol problem, you might find that you are doing more to help with housework or looking after brothers or sisters. You might even help your parent with washing, dressing or going to the toilet. Children and young people who help look after someone with an illness or a disability are often called ‘young carers’.

Looking after your parent shouldn’t be left for you to do. If you have to do things to help you are not ok with, your social worker needs to know - they might be able to find a helper who can do these things instead.

Things changing can give you lots of different feelings.