News

A London-based care support agency has found that a large proportion of carers in black and ethnic minority communities are young and many are afraid and in need of help. Sue Mapp reports

The desperate need to remove the stigma attached to caring among young black carers, particularly boys, so that they may be identified and helped, was underlined by a recent survey in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.

The survey of carers over primary school age and under 18 from black and ethnic minority communities was conducted for the Hammersmith & Fulham Caring for Carers Association, a charity funded by Hammersmith & Fulham social services and, for the past three years, by Ealing, Hammersmith & Hounslow health authority.

Founded in 1991, CCA seeks to help elderly and frail carers, disabled carers and young carers from black and ethnic minority communities. It provides home visits by volunteers giving practical and emotional support, and group support.

It is now in touch with 70 carers, 20 of whom are young carers (one aged only nine), and has 20 volunteers. Most of the carers are referred to CCA by Hammersmith & Fulham social services but some are self-referrals.

CCA project co-ordinator Veronica Ikezue realised many young carers were 'hiding - frightened that they would be taken away from their families if their caring responsibilities were discovered'.

Ikezue commissioned the survey, which found that the proportion of young carers from black and ethnic minority communities in the borough was almost four times the national figure. Some young carers cared for more than one family member - one girl for her siblings and both parents, another for her parents and grandparents.

The most significant factor was that no boys completed the questionnaire. According to researcher Mandana Hendessi this identifies the urgent need for education projects to destigmatise caring. 'It appears that caring bears a particular stigma among boys,' she said. 'Many are probably ashamed to be identified as carers, given that caring is stereotypically associated with girls and women.'

As the only respondants to the sample were girls, Hendessi reckons the true proportion of young carers from black and ethnic minority communities in Hammersmith & Fulham was probably closer to 27 per cent than the 19 per cent revealed. CCA, struggling on a limited budget to meet increasing demands, recognises the reluctance of young carers to talk about their problems, and their concern about confidentiality.

'The survey brought to light young carers not known to social services,' said Ikezue. 'We have to build up their trust and persuade them that we want to help them and that social services will help them and not separate them from their parents.'

Ikezue is still paying initial visits to young carers identified by the survey and allocating them volunteers. She only has social services funding for six volunteers, so has to find the money for the 14 others.

Besides keeping in telephone contact with carers, volunteers pay a two-hour home visit once a week and do whatever is required - shopping, ironing, cleaning, accompanying to hospital appointments, taking children to the park, or just listening to them. They receive £10 a visit, but spend much of that on gifts for the carers.

Many of the volunteers, like Ikezue herself, have been carers. They are mostly from black and ethnic minority communities, but two women from Poland and Portugal have been equally successful in establishing a rapport with black carers.

'Black people are custom-bound to act as carers in the family and find it difficult to ask for help,' said Ikezue. 'They feel it's their problem and they should tackle it alone.'

The importance of understanding the cultural dynamics and not undermining black carers' rights and their desire to be carers were stressed by volunteer Zita Fernandes, who speaks four relevant languages. 'We don't encroach on their privacy or what they can do, we give a hand where needed. You just treat them as your own.

'You have to realise they won't be in the same frame of mind every time you go. They might be angry and shout at you, or they might be unhappy and cry. We have to cope with depression - some are even suicidal at times and we try to cheer them.'

Volunteers are usually allocated one young carer and Fernandes' visits have recently helped to alleviate the burden of a 16-year-old girl studying for A-levels while almost single-handedly caring for her grandmother. The girl told social services she had had enough and was going to leave home. The social services department enlisted the help of CCA and Fernandes stepped in to befriend her.

After carers have got to know their volunteers, Ikezue asks if they are happy with the arrangement or whether they would prefer a different volunteer.

Caribbean-born Bridget Johnson, who cared for her late husband for eight years, said the support she got from CCA was wonderful.

Now she is on her own, she still looks forward to the weekly group meetings and the outings and holidays which are another aspect of CCA's work in the community.

Every Tuesday, using Hammersmith & Fulham community transport, the project takes carers to a centre where they are given lunch and take part in various activities.

Last summer CCA secured funding for a holiday fun programme for young carers themselves. Volunteers stood in for them at home while they enjoyed these breaks from responsibility. This summer, however, no funding has been secured.

'We could do so much more, if we had more money,' said Ikezue, who approached Hammersmith & Fulham social services about setting up the project after her own lonely experience when caring for her dying daughter.

'I had no help and felt empty and rejected. I needed someone to talk to. I understand carers' pain.'Project co-ordinator Veronica Ikezue with volunteer Zita Fernandes