I’m a young adult carer


Young adult carers (Transition Group)

We recognise that being a young adult carer can present a whole different set of issues, as you move out of full-time education into the big wide world – you will need to make choices, to study at sixth form and perhaps apply for university, or maybe look for an apprenticeship or a job opportunity.  If you are continuing to care for a family member, you may need support in accessing welfare rights advice, to ensure that you and the person you care for, gets the benefits you are entitled to.

We are here to help you through all of this.  Don’t be afraid to tell someone you are a young carer.

How do we support you?

Transition Groups meets on the last Wednesday of each month at various location across Wigan borough.  The group aims to allow young adult carers to socialise with other carers and learn new skills.  We do all sorts of different activities such as bowling, film nights, yoga and arts and crafts.

Being young adult carers having life skills training is very important for your role and will help with your future choices.  We may run different training sessions such as accredited first aid, food safety and cooking classes.  As a charity we run residential breaks which our young adult carers can embark on as peer mentors and work as a charity ambassador.

As young adult carers are leaving school, we may run CV workshops, interview skills for college, university and jobs and financial awareness courses.  We can also introduce our young carers to The Prince’s Trust, National Citizen Service, and Aspiring Futures with a view to help their future careers plans.

How to join in

All you need to do is contact us.

If you are under 18 make sure that your parent/guardian is aware of your contact with us.  We will then arrange for a Support Worker to contact you to discuss carrying out an assessment to consider your needs.  The assessment will ascertain whether you meet our young carers criteria and if so, what support we can provide you with.

After the assessment, you can be supported by your Support Worker who will provide advice and outline what services we are currently running.  There may be occasions where we have waiting lists for our groups or activities.  However, we will endeavour to support you from the beginning of your registration with us.

Transition age experiences

‘WLCC also offer training to all the children and young adults that cross their path.  In my years at young carers I have been in multiple training sessions for first aid, media and presentation, cooking and so much more.  This kind of training hasn’t just given us a chance for a better future however, it gives us the experience to work independently if we are ever living on our own in the future.’ JS.

‘At the age of 10, I was shy and liked being alone.  Now at 19 I am one of the loudest members of the group and one of the most confident.  I have made friends for life and people I know I can talk to and trust.  WLCC have helped me with things like first aid, communication training and many other training activities.  This has helped me to get a job in childcare which I have always wanted to do.’  LM.

‘WLCC has really been a breath of fresh air for me these past four years.  Being a young carer has been very confusing for me at times as I have to be independent and mature, but people still treat you like a child regardless of all the responsibilities I have.  WLCC has really helped me vent this frustration as I am surrounded by people who understand my stresses and concerns.  The staff have been so helpful in keeping me stable in some of my hardest moments and I am eternally grateful.’  EA.