NHS North East Hampshire and Farnham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is encouraging people to recognise the county’s young carers, as part of Young Carers’ Awareness Day.

There are an estimated 14,000 young carers across the county, devoting more than 12 hours each week to caring for family members and friends.

Many of them will experience mental health problems as a result of the burden they bear, particularly as one in eight of them are under the age of 10.

Dr Andy Whitfield, the CCG’s clinical chair, said: “There are very few young people registered as carers at GP practices. We would like to encourage more to come forward and register because by knowing who they are we will be in a much better position to work with them and maintain their own health and wellbeing.

“They play a vital role in the lives of vulnerable members of our community and it is important that we are there to support them in turn.”

Surrey Young Carers Service currently supports 2,000 young carers. It is offering up to 32 young carers the opportunity to take part in a ‘Self-Management for Life Young Carers’ course, starting on February 15.

The aim is to help participants better manage their own physical and emotional health and wellbeing. 

The course will help young carers to recognise their own needs, develop self-management skills, increase their self-confidence and strengthen the support networks available to them.

The course will be held in two sessions and will cover improved communication, looking after the carer’s own health, managing emotions and planning for the future.

Candidates will be referred onto the course by a Carers Prescription to Surrey Young Carers which is hosting the service.