The Young Carers ID Card

CymraegEnglish

Carers Trust Wales, in partnership with local authorities from across Wales, is supporting a new Welsh Government funded ID card scheme to help young carers in Wales to be identified, feel validated, and receive the support they deserve.

The Young Carers ID Card has now been launched across all 22 local authorities in Wales. To find out how you could receive the card, please check in with your local authority by visiting their website, and using the contact details provided there.

What is the Young Carers ID card (YCID)?

The YCID, or Young Carers ID card, is a simple card to help professionals including doctors, teachers and pharmacists to recognise them and support them appropriately. Cards may look different across Wales but all will contain a photo of the young carer, their date of birth, and an expiration date, as well as contact information for Carers Trust Wales and their local authority and young carers services. All cards and accompanying resources will display the Young Carers ID card logo, which was designed by two young carers.

Read our FAQ about the YCID and young carers

Although not every local authority in Wales has launched their version of the YCID card yet, we expect the card to be available across the whole of Wales by 2022.

WATCH OUR ANIMATION HERE

What can the YCID card do for me?

If you are a young carer

The YCID card has several benefits for the young carers that choose to have them.

You can find more information about the ID card and its benefits, in this short guide:

YOUNG CARERS GUIDE TO THE ID CARD

Please remember, you don’t need to have a YCID card to receive the support that you have a right to and deserve as a young carer. However, it will help others to identify you and show you what support is available to you.

If you’re a young carer and you need support please contact one of our Network Partners to find out about the support available for you.

If you are a healthcare professional

The YCID card is there to help you to identify who might be a young carer, and our resources will help you to understand what their extra responsibilities might include. We hope that this will allow you to effectively tailor the care you provide to them.

You can find more information about the ID card and its benefits to your relevant profession by following these links:

GUIDE FOR PHARMACISTS

GUIDE FOR GENERAL PRACTITIONERS (GPS)

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WATCH OUR ANIMATION FOR GPS and HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

If you are a teacher or education professional

Many young carers can struggle to keep up with some aspects of their education, including:

  • Being on time for school if there are caring duties they need to carry out before school hours
  • Missing lessons, to tend to the person they care for or attend health appointments
  • Not completing homework as they are busy with caring responsibilities whilst at home

For more information about the ID card and its benefits in school environments and how you can help to support young carers at school or college please click the following link to access our resources:

GUIDE FOR EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS

WATCH OUR ANIMATION FOR EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS