Young Carers Forum Summary Report, Leicester

In March 2017 the partnership organisations involved in this work invited representatives from each of the city’s seven young carers’ groups (aged 12-18) and from the city’s Young Adult Carers’ group (aged 16-20) to meet three times during February to May 2017 with a final session being held to film young carers sharing their key issues and messages from the work undertaken. This report provides an overview of the people involved in the forum, how the forum was managed and information distributed, recommendations for professionals as well as young carers as well as providing final outcomes

The young carers were advised that the outcomes of their work would be used as a training and awareness tool for Practitioners and Managers in the local area and uploaded onto member websites and social media.

The Forum was asked to work on the following priorities with a view to influencing service development and delivery:

• Their experiences of Whole Family Working and associated key messages.

• Their experiences of engaging with Primary Care and associated key messages.

Outcomes:

• Young carers and young adult carers in Leicester were given the opportunity to have a voice and to influence local policy makers, commissioners and providers.

• Young carers reported feeling skilled and empowered to speak up about issues which affect their lives and those of their family.

• Young carers have been inspired to work together beyond the life of the Healthwatch funded project to drive forward other work they wish to pursue in order to enable more young carers to be identified and supported in Leicester.

• Young carers will leave a legacy that will be used to influence decision makers after the life of the project.