On Tuesday 7 May, ‘Vanzelfsprekend JMZ’ provided a guest lesson on informal care for all first-year students at Mencia Sandrode in Zundert. As many as one in four young people have to deal with care at home. Surplus calls young informal carers co-makers. After all, their commitment makes a lot possible.

The first question to the students was: “What is informal care?” In all four groups, there was at least one student who knew more about this topic or experienced informal care at close quarters himself. In addition, Sjoerd shared his story of experience. Sjoerd is 22 years old and has helped care for his brother and mother as a carer. This not only had a great impact on his social life and school performance, but also on his own health. Now he is happy to share his story to make other co-caregivers aware of the impact that informal care can have on your life.

The guest lesson was organised by Surplus informal care support in cooperation with youth work Zundert and ‘Vanzelfsprekend JMZ’ and was offered in the run-up to the Week of Young Informal Caregivers (1 June to 7 June). During that week, Surplus launches the campaign “Ask how they are doing” The aim of this campaign is to draw attention to the group of young informal carers and how the network around them can pick up signals of overburdening. By asking a very simple question.

Co-makers
Co-makers are children and young people between 4 and 24 years old who are dealing with worries at home. They care for a parent/carer or brother/sister and thus make a lot possible. However, this group is often unaware that they are young carers and that support is also available for them. Also, young people mainly want to be ‘normal’ and are ashamed of their often difficult home situation. Through the guest lesson, ‘Naturally JMZ’ contributes to creating awareness.

Surroundings
Surplus“ campaign focuses on ”Ask how they are doing". It focuses on the immediate environment of young informal carers to pick up the signals around getting stuck in informal care. Think for instance of teachers and sports coaches. Paying attention to these often overburdened young people is an important step towards help. Together, we ensure that young informal carers receive support. This can be done through the informal care support centres or Surplus' youth work.

‘Naturally JMZ’
‘Vanzelfsprekend JMZ’ is a platform for young informal carers with a team of professionals and experts by experience. Their aim is to contribute to the familiarity and awareness of young informal carers.