#YoungCarersActionDay (YCAD) is an annual awareness day to shine a light on Young Carers in the UK. According to research by Carers Trust, there is an ‘estimated one million young carers in the UK’ – children under the age of 18 looking after a family member or friend with an illness, disability, or addiction.

An inquiry conducted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group of Young Carers and Young Adult Carers revealed 15,000 UK children, including 3,000 aged just five to nine, are spending at least 50 hours a week on caring on top of juggling their education and their personal and social development.

This year’s theme is ‘Fair Futures for Young Carers’.  Caring for a loved one can have a huge impact a young person’s life and can often lead to educational setbacks. The Fair Future for Young Carers campaign aims to highlight the challenges faced by young carers and advocate for increased support for young carers on both a local and national level.

What responsibilities does a Young Carer have?

A young carer often provides the same support as an adult carer, despite their age.  This can include but isn’t limited to:

• Cooking and household chores such as cleaning.
• Food shopping and managing budget.
• Personal and physical care such as helping their loved one out of bed, bathing them and helping them get dressed.
• Collecting prescriptions and keeping a diary of appointments.

What impact does being a young carer have on a child’s life?

• It can take a toll on their mental and physical health.
• It is often isolating and lonely and can exclude them from their peer group.
• Caring for a loved one can have a profound impact on education and future career prospects due to the amount of time missed from school.

How can you help raise awareness?

Carers Trust has a wide range of resources to help you spread the word about Young Carers for #YoungCarersActionDay2024.

• Print off one of the Carers Trust YCAD posters to spread awareness.
• Send a Young Carers in Education Guide to contacts in your local school and/or university.
• Send a letter using the Carers Trust template to your local and national decision maker to encourage them to take action on and around Young Carers Action Day.

To download the Carers Trust YCAD resources and learn more about Young Carers Action Day, visit here: Young Carers Action Day 2024: Resources – Carers Trust