About Young Carers
Young carers are people aged 25 and under who provide unpaid care to a person who needs it. The vulnerable individual they care for is usually ill, disabled, suffering from a mental health problem, or has substance use disorders problems.
Young carers are often looking after parents, grandparents, siblings, or friends. They may help out with practical tasks such as cooking meals, shopping, cleaning, washing clothes, looking after children or elderly relatives. All while continuing to do homework or take part in leisure activities. Some young carers may provide personal care to their relatives for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Others may spend less time caring for their loved one but still offer emotional support and companionship.
The number of young carers in England has increased since 2010, rising from around 80,000 to 120,000. In Scotland, there are about 26,000 young carers. There are no figures for Wales, Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. However, research suggests that the numbers could be much higher. For example, the National Careers Service estimates that up to half of all school leavers and graduates are likely to become involved in caring roles.
What might a young carer do?
A young carer is defined as anyone who provides unpaid care, either full-time or part-time, to another person aged 16 or over. They provide care because it is, more often than not, expected of them.
Many young carers feel responsible for taking on the role, even though they don’t want to. Others say they enjoy being able to spend time supporting their family and friends.
Young carers are likely to experience some difficulties during their early years as a carer.
- Budgeting
- Food shopping and the collection of prescriptions.
- Housework
- Physical care
- Help with Clothing
- Transport
- Providing emotional wellbeing support
- Managing relationships with other adults
- Keeping up with school work.
As well as dealing with practical issues, young carers face emotional challenges, too.
They may worry about how their family members are feeling, and whether they are getting the best possible care. They may become anxious about what happens next, and wonder whether they will ever be able to achieve their own wants in life. They may also miss out on social activities and friendships.
The Carers Trust offers information and advice on caring for yourself and your children if they are caring for you or someone else.
It is important to note that young carers do not necessarily dwell on the negative impacts of caring.
Being a young carer can have a big impact on the things that are important to growing up
Young carers face unique challenges regarding their education, health, mental well-being, and social life. Young carers often miss out on learning opportunities. This is due to caring responsibilities and, as a consequence, tend to have less educational attainment than their peers, particularly in early childhood.
One study found that children caring for their parents were three times likelier to fail to achieve five good GCSE grades than those without a caring role responsibility.
As part of the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Department for Education launched a £2 billion Carers Fund. With the aim to help support young carers and their families.
This includes providing free access to online courses such as English language lessons and digital skills training. However, it does little to address the underlying issues that lead to a lack of educational opportunities among young carers.
Caring can also be quite isolating. But if they have the right support, they can still achieve great things and not become overwhelmed.
How we support young carers
- Young Carers Action Day is held every year on the second Friday in June. We want everyone to know about this day and what you can do to help.
- Young Carers Action Day aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by young carers and highlight how government policies impact them.
- We encourage organisations to take part in activities that promote understanding and challenge stereotypes around caring roles. And also share stories via social media so that we can let other young carers know that they are not alone.
- #YCActionDay #CareRights #CarerStrust
Specialist services for young carers
Carers Trust helps young carer families manage their caring roles through specialist services and resources. You’ll find many activities and breaks, peer and community support and one-to-one support counselling across the UK.
It may also be beneficial to the young carer to hire in respite care. So they can concentrate on school work or go out with friends to de-stress. Which is great for their mental wellbeing.
I think I might be a young or young adult carer, where can I go for support?
Young people often have extra responsibilities, usually caring roles. Whether it’s looking after the health condition of younger siblings, parents, grandparents, or friends. Or if it is simply helping them with day-to-day tasks.
However, there are many different types of carers, each with different duties and responsibilities. Some young people take on caring roles because they want to help others; some do it out of necessity. Young or young adult carers may also find themselves doing things that they didn’t realise they could do while helping someone else.
If you think that you might qualify as a young or young adult caregiver, you’ll probably know what type of role you play in the family. But if you aren’t sure, talk to your school counsellors, teachers, social workers, or GP about how you spend your time. You may also be able to access information online about what young or young adult carers do.
Grants & Financial Support for Unpaid Carers & The Carers Trust
If you, or the person that you care for, needs extra help paying for something there are many different types of grants, funds and charities that may be willing to help. There are grants for everything from education to housing to health and social care.
If you are a carer, you may be able to receive a Carers Fund grant as part of a package of support from your local Carers Trust Network Partner.
You can search online for grants by searching for ‘grant finder’ or ‘financial help’.
Turn2Us is a free service that helps those in financial need to access benefit payments, charitable grants and other forms of financial help – online, by phone and in person.
The website has a free and simple-to-use grants search and benefit calculator.
Grants and Welfare Benefits
If you are eligible for welfare benefits such as the carers allowance, most charitable funds won’t grant you a grant.
What you need to know about Grants
Read our frequently asked questions to find out about charitable grants, how to search for a grant and how to apply.
What is a grant?
Grant-giving funds, also known as “charitable funds”, provide financial assistance in the form of a grant to those in need.
- Grants may be in the form of money, products, or services that are not repaid.
- Many charities offer support, advice and information.
- You must meet the eligibility requirements of the fund to be eligible for a grant.
Who qualifies for a grant?
All applicants have to:
- Clearly state their aims and objectives and who they support.
- To be eligible for the fund, an individual must meet certain criteria (or qualifying rules).
- The qualifying rules for each fund will be unique.
Low Income
The applicant must be in financial need and have a low household income. These requirements may vary from one charity to the next.
Additional eligibility criteria (qualifying rules).
A grant from a fund may require you to meet certain conditions, such as:
- People with particular disabilities or illnesses. For example, Macmillan Cancer Support assists people who are affected by cancer.
- People who have previously worked in certain jobs or industries, such as the Bank Workers Charity, can work or are currently working in them.
- Living in a specific area of the UK such as a town, village, city, local area, county or parish (past and present), or country.
- A member of a specific age group, e.g. 'older people' or 'children and 'young people aged under 18'
- Some funds are available to help, either specifically males or females in need.
Many funds help the dependents of those they fund support, e.g. Their partners, ex-partners, or dependent children.
What information do I need to submit a grant application?
- Personal information such as date of birth, address and phone number
- Employment history and evidence of occupation
- Reasons you are applying for help
- Information about your income: benefits such as Carer's Allowance and Tax Credits, earnings earned from employment, State Pension, occupational pensions, and any other sources
- Information about your investments, savings and other capital. Bank statements may be required
- Information about rent and mortgage payments
- How much your annual Council Tax bill is and whether or not you receive any assistance
You should ask the charity what you need. But we recommend collecting the information above for both searching and applying.
Young carers are likely to experience some difficulties during their early years as a carer and will need all the help they can get. We recommend you apply even if you think you’re not eligible.
How can I inquire or apply for a charity fund?
Each charity fund has its own application/enquiry process.
There are two main stages usually:
- Send an initial inquiry to the charity.
- Sending or submitting a formal request for help.
Why is it that some funds require me to apply through an intermediary to receive them?
Some charities won’t accept applications unless an intermediary or support worker applies on your behalf. These intermediaries can help you apply:
- Healthcare and social care professionals such as nurses, GPs and therapists.
- Citizens Advice Bureau and other advice organisations provide assistance to advisors.
- Local charities offices such as Age UK or Mind, or groups for people with disabilities.
- Volunteers and staff from charities that work with people in financial distress.
- A person who represents you (advocate, representative) - advocates for people with learning disabilities.
- Teachers.
The profile of the charity should describe what type of professionals they accept.
If you are unable to find one, charitable funds might be able to help you locate someone who can apply for you. You can contact them directly or visit their website.
- Carers Allowance
Carer’s allowance is a benefit that benefits people who provide substantial and regular care to disabled persons. Carer’s allowance is a tax-deductible benefit that forms part of your taxable income.
If you care for someone receiving Attendance Allowance or the Daily Life Component Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or the middle/highest-rate Care Component, Child Disability Payment, or the Daily Living Component Adult Disability Payment, you may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance.
The Overlapping Benefit Rule
Overlapping Benefit Rules is when you might be eligible for multiple earnings replacement benefits. But you can’t receive more than one benefit at a time. There are two types of benefits: contributory and non-contributory
If you receive certain benefits, Carers Allowance cannot be paid to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Charitable funds strive to respond as quickly as possible. The length of the grant application process depends on:
- They have the resources available regarding staffing and funding.
- How they assess your application
- Many charitable funds employ committees to evaluate applications. These committees meet a variety of times, from once per month to less often. Other staff may visit the home of applicants to assess their applications.
Complete the inquiry and application forms completely. You should also provide as much information and documentation as possible to support your case. You may be asked for additional information that is not required. This could delay the process.
Not necessarily. The fund may consider you eligible based on the information provided in your inquiry form. The fund will then proceed to the formal application stage, where they will evaluate your eligibility and assess your needs.
If the fund has provided us with the information, the “How to Apply” section of their profile should include information about how long it takes to process grant applications.
You can be paid either by cheque or direct bank transfer through a system such as the Bankers Automated Clearing System.
Some grants won’t be paid directly to the person who needs them, but rather to an intermediary organisation that is involved in their care.
Some funds grant grants in the form of ‘gifts-in-kind’. They would purchase certain items such as white goods or furniture for the people they help. Especially if they could get a better deal because they are a charity, or by buying in bulk.
Items such as disability equipment may be given as a loan, free of charge, or at a very low rental cost, rather than as gifts.
You will receive further information from the fund about how your grant will be paid.
There are no entitlements to charitable grants. They are granted at the discretion of each charity fund.
Your application to a charity fund might be denied. When responding to your application, the fund should provide a reason.
It could be because:
- You don’t meet these requirements.
- The charity doesn’t provide grants for the help you need.
- To be eligible for assistance, you must have sufficient income and/or capital.
- You have not applied for a charitable fund for another reason.
You may be able to find other help from the charity.
