Hope for the Hidden: Empowering the Young Carer

By Maria Machi

'Hope for the Hidden: Empowering the Young Carer' is an enlightening exploration into the often-overlooked world of young carers, providing a narrative that blends a young carer's story with academic research and practical advice. The book begins by introducing us to the life of a young carer, Olivia, whose daily struggles and responsibilities are vividly portrayed. Through Olivia's eyes, readers gain an intimate understanding of the challenges faced by young individuals who shoulder the immense responsibility of caring for family members.
As the book unfolds, it delves into comprehensive research in the field of young carers. This section highlights the various dimensions of their experiences, ranging from emotional and psychological impacts to the effects on their education and social lives. The research not only provides a deeper understanding of the issues but also underscores the importance of recognizing and supporting these young individuals.
The heart of the book lies in its practical guidance for young carers. It offers a wealth of resources designed to help them cope with their unique challenges. These resources include coping strategies and tools for managing the emotional and physical demands of caregiving. This section provides the young carers with the knowledge and means to balance their caring roles with their own well-being.
The book also extends its reach to professionals and institutions, such as schools and NGOs, who play a crucial role in supporting young carers. The book presents top-line ideas and strategies that can be implemented by these organisations to create a more caring and understanding environment. These suggestions include practical steps that can be taken to ease the burden on young carers and ensure they receive the support they need.
The book comes full circle with the continuation of Olivia's story, showcasing how her life transforms with the support and resources she receives. This concluding part of the book is a powerful reflection on the positive change that can be achieved when young carers are given the help and recognition they deserve. Olivia's journey from struggle to empowerment serves as a beacon of hope, not just for young carers but for all those involved in their lives.
'Hope for the Hidden: Empowering the Young Carer' is more than just a book; it's a call to action. It challenges readers to open their eyes to the realities of young carers and inspires them to be part of the solution. Whether you are a young carer, an educator, a social worker, or simply someone looking to make a difference, this book offers valuable insights and practical tools to help uplift and support the hidden heroes among us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Grosvenor House Publishing
• Release date: Apr 25, 2024
• ISBN: 9781803817675

Book preview

Preface

Drawing on a rich foundation in psychology and play therapy, I have dedicated my career to the complex area of young carers. My journey began at the University of Valencia, where I earned my degree in Psychology from 2003 to 2009. Seeking further specialisation, I moved to the UK to delve into the world of play therapy at the University of South Wales. It was during this time that I first encountered the term ‘young carer’. My curiosity was piqued, and I delved deeper into understanding and learning about these young individuals. By 2012, I proudly held a degree in Play Therapy from the University of South Wales.

In the early stages of my career, I had the privilege of practising as a play therapist in various schools and temporary housing services dedicated to homeless families. It was during these invaluable years that I worked directly with young carers. I began to notice a pattern: many children coming to play therapy, while referred for various reasons, were actually young carers. Their roles as caregivers were undeniably influencing their lives, an observation I found both intriguing and critical.

Later on, I joined prominent organisations and clinics throughout the UK. Notably, I worked for Place2be in Cardiff, a commendable organisation devoted to offering mental health support to children within school settings. My time there only reinforced my observations. Many of the children flagged by teachers or staff for potential behavioural issues and subsequently referred to the school’s counselling department were, in fact, young carers. It became increasingly clear to me how it is paramount to understand and support these young individuals in their unique challenges.

At the renowned Tavistock and Portman clinic in London, I further sharpened my skills as a psychologist and play therapist. As I interacted with patients and researched available support and resources for them, I deepened my understanding of young caring.

Following that, I started working at Action for Children in London, marking my introduction to a dedicated young carers project. It provided me with an invaluable inside look at the operations of such a project. I was directly engaged in conducting assessments, offering counselling to young carers, aiding them in schools, managing cases through advocacy, making referrals and implementing clinical interventions, among other duties.

After my time in the UK, I relocated to Malta, where I set out to explore the support systems in place for young carers. To my astonishment, I found that not only were there no dedicated services for these young individuals, but there was also a striking lack of awareness regarding their identities and the challenges they faced daily. Recognising this gap, I felt compelled to raise awareness and initiate efforts to establish supportive frameworks for these children.

Reaching out to various organisations, I was heartened to find several eager to collaborate. Notably, SOS Malta sponsored comprehensive research into the situation of young carers on the island. As the lead researcher, I was instrumental in producing a report titled ‘A Study of Young Carers in Malta’ published by the NGO SOS Malta. Other institutions like St Jeanne Antide and Caritas Malta took an active interest in the study’s findings, allowing me to offer counselling to young carers under their aegis.

This book is the culmination of my experience and the insights acquired throughout my career. Summarising the knowledge and advice that I’ve gained over the past 15 years about young carers, it is my hope that it may serve to raise awareness and help create new support systems for these children. I hope that this book might be of some help to the young carers themselves. After trying to investigate what the current situation for young carers is in other countries, and finding out that there are still many countries who lack even a term for young carers, I hope writing a short and accessible book on the topic might be a small but valid contribution to the important task of raising awareness globally.

This book is for anyone who is interested in the topic and in learning how we can help and support these heroes. This book is also for any person working in, or who has an interest in, social welfare, and even for those who have never heard of young carers. The fact that you’ve never encountered the term ‘young carers’ does not mean they don’t exist. Young carers are everywhere but, unfortunately, in many cases, they still remain hidden. The book is also for young carers themselves, for them to know that they are not alone and that there are people working on finding the best ways to support them. Hopefully, the book itself provides young carers with some help and guidance.

CHAPTER ONE

Olivia’s Quiet Storm: A Young Carer’s World

Olivia is a sweet, kind and caring 12-year-old girl who lives in east London with her mother, Jane, and her nine-year-old brother, Benjamin. Although Olivia appears to be a very normal child, her life has not been easy so far, and from a very young age she has been struggling to cope with very