#YoungCarersCount - We shine a light on the impact of lockdown on Young Carers

With the country back in lockdown, we're lifting the lid on what life's been like for Young Carers, and how more needs to be done to support them through the pandemic.

Young carers are children who look after a family member because of illness, disability or addiction.

Our investigation has found:

• Young Carers' mental health was negatively impacted by the first lockdown.
• The government's Covid Bill left some Young Carers without outside support.
• Young Carers were left balancing care responsibilities with home-schooling without respite.
• There is a lack of data on Young Carers, which means its hard to find how many might need extra support.

How did life change for Young Carers?

We've been speaking to Young Carers to hear their stories, and hear from organisations who are dedicated to supporting the work of Young Carers at home.

A Carer's Trust survey, conducted during the first lockdown, found Young Carers had a difficult time, with 40% declaring their mental health was in a worst place than it was before coronavirus struck.

Two out of three said they felt more stressed and worried about the future because of the impact of the pandemic, while 58% said lockdown had increased their caring workload by 10 hours a week or more.

The Government's Covid Bill, which set out the rules around the first lockdown, meant local authorities had a reduced obligation to provide care packages for those caring at home.

That, combined with a lack of PPE, and general fears around the virus' spread meant some Young Carers had to take on even more responsibilities.

The closure of schools also meant that Young Carers missed out on opportunities to socialise and get a break from their duties. Some Young Carers had to oversee the home-schooling of younger siblings, before starting their own work.

What impact did lockdown have on Young Carers' workload?

Gareth Howell is CEO of The Carer's Trust, and a former Young Carer himself.

He told our Senior Correspondent Mick Coyle the stories he'd been hearing before and during the lockdown.

There are other issues organisations which work with Young Carers have raised with us.

The Children's Society work with Young Carers across the country, both directly and through hundreds of local partner agencies. They've highlighted many of the issues outlined above, and raised further issues that require swift action.

How many Young Carers are there in the country?

The Children's Society say the answer is simple. No one knows.

At the moment, organisations work off stats from the 2011 UK census, which they believe did not fully capture the truth about the number of Young Carers in the country.

It showed there are 166,000 Young Carers nationwide, while a study from Nottingham University and the BBC estimated the number was closer to 800,000 for England.

The organisations we've spoken to say the true number could be closer to one million across the whole of the UK.

Helen Leadbitter is the National Lead for Young Carers at The Children's Society. She's been telling Mick Coyle why the lack of data is a problem.

The Children's Society and The Carer's Trust both told us that including a child's Young Carer status in the school census would provide a much better picture of the true number of Young Carers across the country.

It's already been introduced in Scotland.

Knowing how many Young Carers there are would allow stricter monitoring of the support required by Carers, as well as better assessments of the health of those requiring the care.

It would create a greater sense of accountability, with local authorities knowing exactly how many young people potentially need support.

Significantly, it would also mean that, subject to appropriate training, schools would know which of its pupils require the most support, and pass that information on to high schools and colleges to ensure a continuity of care. At the moment, some Young Carers can't complete homework tasks or attend detentions because of their responsibilities at home.

Young Carers whose school knew about their status told us it made their lives significantly easier, and reduced any sense of stigma or embarrassment they feel.

Where can I get help if I'm a Young Carer?

It's true that some Young Carers won't even know they're Young Carers, presuming that their extra responsibilities are just part of normal life, but there are lots of organisations that can provide support, no matter what level of care you provide.

First up, here's a link to The Children's Society They've helped us shape and conduct this investigation. They campaign on issues that affect Young Carers, and offer training to adults who deal with Young Carers on a regular basis.

Next, the Carers Trust operate across the UK, with partner agencies for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. They champion carers of all ages, and campaign on issues relevant to Carers and their families.

You may be eligible for a Carer's Allowance if you're a Young Carer. This website offer a range of information about YC Rights, and includes a link to the Carers Direct helpline.

Young Minds focus on the mental health of young people. They have a dedicated page to discuss the wellbeing of Carers.

And the Money Advice Service have set out some of the financial support for Young Carers here

Don't forget, your local council might have specific things in place to support local carers. Find yours, and head to their individual websites here

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