Young Carers Action Day 2024
Young Carers Action Day provides an opportunity for everyone to call for better support for young carers and young adult carers, and to bring about change.
This year's theme is fair futures for young carers. The day will focus on building a more equal future for young carers and removing barriers that many of their peers do not face.
No-one is sure as to how many young carers there are, estimates range from 39,000 to over 800,000. One thing is certain: there are a significant number of young people across the country with caring responsibilities, and it’s important that every one of them gets the right support they need.
The Children and Families Act 2014, and the Care Act 2014, both have strengthened young carers' rights. Local authorities have a duty to offer all young carers an assessment of need — no matter how old they are, who they look after, how many hours they provide support for, and why they care.
Young Adult Carers are also entitled to a transition assessment before they turn 18. This ensures that they have the support they need as they begin their adult life.
Being a young person with caring responsibilities can be challenging as some feel stressed, anxious, have to miss school and joining friends and social events or even planning for the future. But research shows that young carers are resilient and value the closeness of the person they care for.
A day in the life of a young a carer
Chloe supports her mother, who lives with mental health issue and sister Louise.
Chloes’ day starts at 6.30am and once she has showered, dressed, and ready for school, she wakes her younger sister. She sorts out breakfast for them both.
Sometimes Mum will come downstairs for a cup of tea, if she is feeling well enough, but not this morning. So, Chloe takes up a cup of tea and opens’ the curtains in her room. Mum is awake and sits up in bed to have her tea and takes her anti-depressants which are kept in her bedside drawer.
Today is a good day, Mum seems bright and says she will come downstairs and say good bye to Louise and Chloe.
Chloe calls Gran to let her know that Mum is up and about and seems ok today. Gran offers to pick Louise up from school.
Before leaving for school Chloe makes a packed lunch for Louise and herself. She then packs Louise’s school bag and sort out her own stuff. Today, she will be in trouble, as she has not done her English home work.
Chloe takes a lasagne out of the freezer and put it on the side to defrost. Mum comes down stairs in her dressing gown, puts Louise shoes on and kisses them both goodbye. Off to school.
Louise’s school is just 5 minutes from home, so they can walk. Then Chloe has to run to catch the bus from the bus stop into the town, to her school. Today, she just made it into tutor group on time.
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