This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/8092116.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Half of young carers 'can't cope' | Half of young carers 'can't cope' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| More than half of young carers in Wales have felt they could not cope with their responsibilities during the course of a week, a report has found. | More than half of young carers in Wales have felt they could not cope with their responsibilities during the course of a week, a report has found. |
| Around 150 young carers helped write a report showing how difficult it can be for them to have the sort of lifestyle other children take for granted. | Around 150 young carers helped write a report showing how difficult it can be for them to have the sort of lifestyle other children take for granted. |
| The project team, led by young carers, gathered views at 19 of the 22 local carer projects across Wales. | The project team, led by young carers, gathered views at 19 of the 22 local carer projects across Wales. |
| More than 2% of children under 16 have caring responsibilities. | More than 2% of children under 16 have caring responsibilities. |
| Keith Towler, the Children's Commissioner, told BBC Wales: "One of the stark things that the research shows is that over 50% of them, over half of those young carers that we spoke to, talked about not being able to cope, talked about being under severe stress. | Keith Towler, the Children's Commissioner, told BBC Wales: "One of the stark things that the research shows is that over 50% of them, over half of those young carers that we spoke to, talked about not being able to cope, talked about being under severe stress. |
| "When the question said 'when did you last feel under real stress or unable to cope?', the answer came, 'well - within the last few days'. | "When the question said 'when did you last feel under real stress or unable to cope?', the answer came, 'well - within the last few days'. |
| "Listening to what those children and young people have been saying in this research, they don't get as much help as maybe they deserve." | "Listening to what those children and young people have been saying in this research, they don't get as much help as maybe they deserve." |
| The report, entitled Full of Care, aims to show the barriers they face achieving the rights laid out by the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, such as the right to education, to relax and play and to have their views respected. | The report, entitled Full of Care, aims to show the barriers they face achieving the rights laid out by the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, such as the right to education, to relax and play and to have their views respected. |
| Of those surveyed, 37% felt their opinions were not respected, 52% felt they could not cope during the previous week, and 73% who administer medication had never received any training. | Of those surveyed, 37% felt their opinions were not respected, 52% felt they could not cope during the previous week, and 73% who administer medication had never received any training. |
| The report comes just days after a care charity found three-quarters of Wales' estimated 340,000 carers were at breaking point, and in some cases had attempted suicide. | The report comes just days after a care charity found three-quarters of Wales' estimated 340,000 carers were at breaking point, and in some cases had attempted suicide. |
| Jay, 18, has cared for his mother for many years | Jay, 18, has cared for his mother for many years |
| Powys Young Carers led the research at a number of events across the country, which used voting pads to allow young carers to remain anonymous when answering questions. | Powys Young Carers led the research at a number of events across the country, which used voting pads to allow young carers to remain anonymous when answering questions. |
| One of the organisers was 18-year-old Jay, who lives near Machynlleth in Powys. | One of the organisers was 18-year-old Jay, who lives near Machynlleth in Powys. |
| He has been an official carer for five years, but has acted in that role for much longer. Jay's mother has mental health difficulties and mobility problems following a cyst on her knee. | He has been an official carer for five years, but has acted in that role for much longer. Jay's mother has mental health difficulties and mobility problems following a cyst on her knee. |
| His younger sister, aged 10, is also a carer for their mother and there are two younger children aged five and three who need looking after as well. | His younger sister, aged 10, is also a carer for their mother and there are two younger children aged five and three who need looking after as well. |
| She does receive visits from five organisations, but Jay believes it still leaves her short of the help required. | She does receive visits from five organisations, but Jay believes it still leaves her short of the help required. |
| He is now classed as a young adult carer, a role he says which can bring difficult changes. | He is now classed as a young adult carer, a role he says which can bring difficult changes. |
| "As soon as you hit 18, you become an adult carer, but a lot of people aren't ready for that," he said. | "As soon as you hit 18, you become an adult carer, but a lot of people aren't ready for that," he said. |
| I'd take everything out in school - I saw it as a place to escape, but if anyone wound me up, I'd react Jay, 18 | I'd take everything out in school - I saw it as a place to escape, but if anyone wound me up, I'd react Jay, 18 |
| He said caring for his mother has had a significant impact on his life. | He said caring for his mother has had a significant impact on his life. |
| "With my education, I actually got suspended from school nine times and that was always as a result of my caring role," he added. | "With my education, I actually got suspended from school nine times and that was always as a result of my caring role," he added. |
| "I'd take everything out in school - I saw it as a place to escape, but if anyone wound me up, I'd react." | "I'd take everything out in school - I saw it as a place to escape, but if anyone wound me up, I'd react." |
| He believes there needs to be more training given to school staff to understand the impact caring can have on pupils. | He believes there needs to be more training given to school staff to understand the impact caring can have on pupils. |
| Although he has now moved out of home, he still goes to help his mother a number of times a week, and says he could not move too far away because of the responsibility he has. | Although he has now moved out of home, he still goes to help his mother a number of times a week, and says he could not move too far away because of the responsibility he has. |
| The report is recommending the Welsh Assembly Government consider the need for a national young carers' strategy and local authorities assess young carers' needs and not expect them to do inappropriate tasks. | The report is recommending the Welsh Assembly Government consider the need for a national young carers' strategy and local authorities assess young carers' needs and not expect them to do inappropriate tasks. |
| It also incorporated suggestions from young carers, including developing an ID card which carers could use to explain their responsibilities without going into personal details. | It also incorporated suggestions from young carers, including developing an ID card which carers could use to explain their responsibilities without going into personal details. |