A visit from care experts at Les Cotils yesterday raised the issue of identifying young carers in the island who have no support structure. Left to right are Sarah Marquis, development manager Danni Manzi, Jane Mosse and policy and development officer Daniel Phelp of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0799691)

HUNDREDS of young carers in Guernsey could be coping alone because of difficulties in identifying them, according to the Health Information Exchange director of services.

The island’s last census in 2001 highlighted 20 young carers who were looking after parents, siblings or friends, but that figure is now eight years out of date.

Wendy Beaven said at a support group meeting yesterday that at present there could be potentially many more young carers in Guernsey.

‘We are talking about hundreds if you compare Guernsey to the UK.

‘The big problem is in identifying young carers because many don’t identify themselves.

‘It’s only when they reach breaking point that they ask for help,’ she said, adding that children and families were reluctant to involve agencies because they were wary of the children being taken into care.

A young person under the age of 18, who looks after someone with a physical or mental illness or substance misuse problem, is classed as a young carer.