(Image from Sheffield Carers Trust: David Johnston MP, Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, signed the Young Carers and Young Adult Carers Pledge for support at the APPG inquiry launch reception)
A group of young carers attended a rally at 10 Downing Street to demand more support for their families, after an inquiry revealed the devastating impact caring has on young people.
The All-Party Parlimentary group inquiry, supported by the Carers Trust, revealed the extent of missed life opportunities for young people with caring responsibilities.
Mirrie, 16, a carer from Sheffield, was part of a group who handed an open letter to PM Rishi Sunak, ahead of today’s Carers Rights Day.
She said: “It was an amazing experience to be part of the inquiry launch event. Being there showed me that all the work we do actually makes a difference in Westminster, and it made me hopeful for much more change in the future.”
The letter was signed by 1,267 young and young adult carers nationally, with the charity Sheffield Young Carers being one of 70 organisations to contribute to the inquiry.
Findings showed 15,000 children, including 3,000 aged just five to nine, spend 50 hours or more a week looking after someone because of an illness, disability or addiction.
Alongside this, young carers miss 27 school days per year on average.
Further findings uncovered that young adult carers are less likely to be employed than their peers who don’t have caring responsibilities, and less likely to achieve a university degree.
Of children who self-harm, young carers are twice as likely to attempt to take their own life in comparison to non-carers.
Carers Trust CEO, Kirsty McHugh also responded to the report: “This damning report should be a wake-up call that young carers are being horribly let down by the system. They are facing huge disadvantages when it comes to education, job prospects and wellbeing, all because they put their loved ones first.
“As the social care system struggles to cope with demand, these young people are having to fill the gaps. Support needs to be ramped up across the board and there’s a critical need for a long-term strategy to ensure a fair future for every young carer.”
To help raise awareness about carers rights today, or in the future, visit Carers UK or Sheffield Young Carers to get involved.
For more information about Sheffield Young Carers, email Information@sheffieldyoungcarers.uk or phone 0114 258 4595.