There 2 Care

"Ever wondered what it's like to be a young carer? This short film explores all aspects of being a young carer, from the jobs they do, to what they worry about. This film is as honest as they get, because a group of young carers helped to make it” (Sharpay, young carer, 10 years old).

Collaborative interdisciplinary practice-as-research project exploring the experiences of children who look after members of their families, with research outcomes expressed as a clay animation, disseminated via DVD distribution and the internet.

Winner of the Media Innovation Award 2009: Collaboration between Business and Young People. The winner was announced at a gala award ceremony at the Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol on Thursday evening 12th March 2009. There 2 Care was praised by the judges for its “amazing animation."

DVD introduction by Dr Roger Morgan, OBE, Children's Rights Director for England.

The DVD is a training tool for healthcare professionals, teachers and children and aims to raise awareness about young carers. Young carers are children who have to look after members of their family, because a parent is ill, has had an accident or is disabled, or cannot be the head of the family for other reasons. A young carer takes on the responsibilities for their family, often in very difficult circumstances, and ensures that siblings and parents are fed, that the home is cleaned, that bills and rent are paid; and, in many cases, young carers are responsible for administering prescribed medicines and other medical needs. A young carer does all this as well as studying at school, and, typically, has little or no time for simply ‘being a child’, playing, or focusing on their own needs.