There are many children who live with disabled or chronically sick adults, carrying out caring responsibilities that may undermine or interfere with their schooling and social and emotional development. Children in such circumstances have additional and different needs to adults and need special support.

We have 2 Young Carers Support Co-ordinators for Cornwall based in Camborne, funded by Adult Care and Support and Children, Young People and Families. They can help with:

• Giving advice and information
• Getting practical help and liasing with professionals
• Providing someone to talk to who will listen and understand
• Arranging trips, outing and leisure activities
• Arranging time-off

We are happy to meet young carers, those being cared for and professionals for a chat to discuss how the project could help them. Meetings can be arranged in a place, at a time and with people you feel comfortable with.

The service offers young carers between the ages of 5 and 12, who are identified as needing one to one support, an adult volunteer who will support them over a 6 month period. The volunteers are CRB checked and undergo training before a young carer is referred to them.

The service is partially funded by the Duchy Health Charity.

The following Radio Cornwall interview was held on 31 October, to publicise the Young Carers Roadshows, which were aimed at professionals to raise awareness regarding the roles of young carers caring for an adult.