Who are young carers

Who are young carers?

The official definition of a young carer is '…a person under 18 who provides or intends to provide care for another person (of any age, except where that care is provided for payment, pursuant to a contract or as voluntary work).' Children and Families Act 2014 Section 96.

These young carers are forced to grow up early and miss out on the same opportunities as other children because they care for family members who are disabled or chronically ill, or for adults who are misusing alcohol or drugs.

According to the 2011 census data, the most recent official data, the number of young carers rose by 20% compared with ten years before.

Some of these children are not only losing their childhoods they are also missing out on vital school and training, which will have a negative impact on the rest of their lives. Find out more in our report Hidden from View: Experiences of young carers in England.

In April 2014, two new laws, the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Care Act 2014, came into effect with regards to young carers and their families, particularly around the right to an assessment of their needs for support. The rights afforded to young carers 'will be extended to all young carers under the age of 18 regardless of who they care for, what type of care they provide or how often they provide it.' – The Care Act and Whole Family Approaches, 2015.