New research this YCAD shows how rarely young carers get a break
More than half of young carers aren’t getting the breaks they need, alarming survey finds
More than half of young carers can’t get a regular break from caring, while almost a quarter say there’s no one else to provide the care they do, an alarming survey has found.
- Almost a quarter of young carers say no one else can provide the care they do
- Two-fifths worry too much about the person they care for to take a break
- 72% miss out on the school holidays, nearly half miss out on friendships and almost one in five say they’re missing time out of their education
The findings have been released by Carers Trust for Young Carers Action Day, 12th March.
The time young carers spend on their caring role means young carers often miss out on education, friendships, holidays and many other things their classmates take for granted, the survey showed.
Minimal time to themselves
The survey of 423 young and young adult carers found nearly one in five rarely or never get a break (17%), while 40% said they got one only some of the time. Just 15% said they could take a break whenever they wanted.
Asked what stopped them getting a break, almost a quarter (23%) said there was no one else to provide the care they give. Two-fifths (40%) said they worried too much about the person they care for to take time out from looking after them.
One young carer said:
“I feel bad for taking breaks and when I have time for myself I’m always thinking that I could be doing something else to help out. It’s isolating because I can’t meet up with friends. I can text but it’s just not the same. Everyone’s planning their holidays and trips but I know I can’t go on holiday.”
Almost three-quarters of young carers (72%) said they miss out on the holidays because they provide care, the survey showed.
Many also felt they were shut out of a lot of the things most other children get to do. Nearly half (49%) miss out on friendships, and 46% on hobbies. Almost two-thirds (65%) said they lacked time to themselves and nearly one in five (19%) felt they were missing their education.
About Young Carers Action Day
Young Carers Action Day is an annual campaign organised by Carers Trust with its network of local carer organisations, including ACS here in Surrey. The day aims to highlight the challenges faced by the UK’s one million young carers (under-18s) and the hundreds of thousands of young adult carers aged 18-25. At least 16,000 young carers in the UK, some just five years old, are caring for 50 hours a week or more, according to the most recent census data.
This year the theme of Young Carers Action Day is ‘Give Me A Break’. It was chosen by young carers themselves to show their need for respite but also to be given a chance in life by schools, employers and politicians.
What’s needed…
Carers Trust is calling on the UK Government to ensure all young carers have access to a properly funded break from their caring role. Politicians, education providers, employers and other organisations are also being asked to sign the Young Carers Covenant, a pledge to help young carers improve their lives.
Kirsty McHugh, Carers Trust’s CEO, said:
“Across the UK, children as young as five are spending huge amounts of their free time caring for others. We know this can have a devastating effect on their education, wellbeing and future prospects. It is simply wrong that, as a country, we are asking so many children to take on so much.
“Those in power need to give young carers a break. If we want young people to thrive, as well as those for which they care, we need to give these young people the chance to take time out from their caring duties.”