‘Young Carers’ experiences of having a “buddy” on the Buddies for Children and Youngsters programme in Denmark- A qualitative interview study’

Author(s): Nissen, Karina B.; Laursen, Sisse H.; Haslund-Thomsen, Helle
Publisher: Health & Social Care in the Community
Year Published: 2022
Resource type: Peer Reviewed Research Article

Summary:

This article explores the experiences of young carers aged six to 16 years who participated in a volunteer respite programme named Buddies for Children and Youngsters. ‘Buddies’ referred to students from the University College of Northern Denmark who offered respite to young carers in the form of their preferred activities. In 2020, the study conducted 12 interviews with young carers who had participated in the programme for at least four months. Findings demonstrated: a ‘buddy’ is someone special; feeling happier and less lonely; experiencing a social and personal influence; and experiencing influence on family life. The study suggested that future initiatives for young carers may benefit from increased awareness of young carers’ experiences of support.

Citation: Nissen, K. B., Laursen, S. H., & Haslund-Thomsen, H. (2022). Young carers’ experiences of having a “buddy” on the Buddies for Children and Youngsters programme in Denmark – A qualitative interview study. Health & Social Care in the Community, 30(5), e2849–e2857. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13728

Keywords: Children as relatives; psychosocial support; respite programme; undergraduate students; volunteers; young carers

Where the data was collected: Northern Denmark