Norfolk young carers talk to local MP's

[wendy]

Today 20th February 2014 I went to an event arranged by the University of East Anglia in Norwich for young carers.
We watched 2 films and then there was a question and answer time with someone from the UEA, someone from the Nofolk Young carers Forum,  Norman Lamb MP, Chloe Smith MP and Simon Wright MP

There are 12,000 young carers in Norfolk and maybe many more.

A question, Why can't young carers get help with transport.
In Kent carers have a Freedom card for carers so they can use that.  This needs to be available in Norfolk.
http://www.kent.gov.uk/roads_and_transp ... _pass.aspx

It was discussed that young carers should be assessed at the same time an assessment for the cared person is done, but a young carer told us he has been waiting for a year and still has not heard anything.  Norman Lamb said he would look into this.

We were told that young people are sometimes afraid to tell the teacher that they are a carer, because of bullying.  A film about young carers was shown which everyone felt should be shown to all teachers and in teacher training colleges.  Norman Lamb said he would speak to the Education minister about this.

The Norfolk carers forum said there will be  a young carers awareness day on 13th June during Carers week, and this has never happened before.  There is also going to be a young carers website for Norfolk, launched very shortly.

More awareness needs to be made about young carers because someone said they save the country billions of pounds.

There is a hardship fund at universities which young carers can approach for help if they face financial difficulties.

The second film was moving and showed some of the problems that young carers face every day.
The day was a big step forward for Norfolks young carers to have a voice.