A Charity is working closely with the Department of Education and Children to survey young carers with the aim of improving their lives. Crossroads Caring for Carers Isle of Man has already conducted detailed research into adults in a caring role. It is now shifting the focus to young carers and launching a web-based survey that is being launched during Carers Week this week and will run for six weeks until 1st August, collecting much-needed data. Young people can access the survey via the DEC’s wiki https://www2.sch.im/ and it is being publicised in schools, via assemblies. It asks young people who they care for, how many hours they spend caring, what tasks they perform, what they like and don’t like about caring and how it affects their lives, including whether it leads to them missing and/or being late for school and whether they would appreciate more support in school. Crossroads runs the Young Carers Project, offering support and respite for under-18s caring for parents or siblings who have a disability, illness, mental health or substance misuse issue. ‘We work closely with young carers from an early age until they no longer require our help,’ said said Alex Wilson, researcher with Crossroads. ‘Data from this year’s Census is awaited, but it is estimated that there are more than 1,000 young carers on the Isle of Man, only a small number of whom access our help.’ ‘The care young people provide varies from situation to situation, but all take on more adult roles and responsibilities within the home, often to the detriment of their education and future. Because their caring role has simply evolved, many do not even recognise themselves as carers,’ Alex said. ‘Young carers generally do not do well academically, partly due to the heavy burden caring places on their time and the anxiety and lack of concentration that comes with worrying about leaving their care partner at home while they are at school and partly due to a lack of knowledge and understanding from peers,’ she said. ‘Through the survey, we aim to get a more accurate idea of the number of young carers on the Isle of Man and the extent of their caring responsibilities. Young carers have the opportunity to voice their needs and concerns and tell us what help they would like in order to improve policies and procedures to help them thrive and flourish, taking an active part in education, employment and taking up leisure activities while fulfilling their caring role.’ Sally Brookes, Head of Services for Children with the DEC, said she and her colleague Graham Kinrade, Co-ordinating Adviser for ICT, would help to analyse the results of the survey, which will ultimately inform the Isle of Man Government’s new Children’s Plan, set for publication post 2012. Sally said: ‘We are happy to facilitate this survey in order to raise the profile of young carers on the Isle of Man and, for the first time, collect their candid views on how caring is affecting their lives. By listening to these views, we will be able to plan to meet their needs more effectively.’ The survey is password protected to ensure the quality of the data. Young carers who can’t obtain the information from a school should ring Jo Overty at the DEC on 686080 or email jo.overty@gov.im for assistance. For more information about the survey, contact Alex on 01624 623050. For information on Crossroad’s Young Carers Project, contact Karen Davies on 01624 678646. Ends