A new website designed by and for Swansea’s hundreds of young carers has been launched.
The Swansea Young Carers site is aimed at and has contributions from young people who take substantial responsibility for caring for a relative who is ill, disabled or affected by substance misuse or mental distress.
Among Swansea’s young carers who have worked on the site is Bonymaen 14-year-old Alex Atkins who looks after her mother because she has a long term medical condition.
Alex, who helped design the site, has benefited from the work of Crossroads Young Carers Project which has helped put her in touch with other young carers.
She said: “I’ve been caring for my mum for about four years now and I get help from Crossroads and from a personal assistant to help look after her.
“A lot of people don’t know what we do and may not know they are carers just like me.
“The website is there for people to have a look at and see what young carers do. There are also profiles on young carers and information for people who want to know more or get help.”
The project has been developed by the city’s Young Carers Action Group in partnership with Swansea Council and with involvement and contributions from a group from the Crossroads Young Carers Project.
Nick Tregoning, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Services, said: “Many young carers feel isolated from other young people because of the responsibilities they have.
“The care they give often goes unnoticed and unrecognised except by family and close friends.
“This website is one way that they can keep in contact with each other as well as access information that they may find interesting and useful. I’m sure that it will be a great success.”
The domain name for the new website is www.swanseayoungcarers.co.uk
