Young carers in Buckinghamshire showcase their talents
Carers Bucks have shared the video as part of Young Carers Action Day
Buckinghamshire's young carers have created a video highlighting their skills.
Young Carers across Buckinghamshire have joined in a video to showcase their skills as part of Young Carers Action Day.
Carers Bucks have shared the video on their social media pages to highlight caring for someone else although difficult brings skills and experience.
Carer's Trust is calling on government to Protect Young Carers' Futures to marks Young Carer's Action Day 2021.
Stats show Young Carers, who have to support someone with a mental or physical problem at home, achieve a grade lower in each subject than their non-Caring classmates.
Meanwhile, up to 78% of Young Adult Carers are now more worried about their own future because of the pandemic.
Edward, a young carer from Aylesbury says its been a difficult time:
"I know it sounds weird, I wanted time away from him since we share a room together it can sometimes be annoying.
"He can be really annoying at times, but I get to care for my brother, to go out to places with new people.
"Sometimes I will think 'when is our next meeting?' when I am at school and it gets really stressful.
"I usually talk to my mum, or my friends or even George. I would say its good to talk, since I talk to someone because I am stressed I would say they should talk if they or stressed.
"You never know someone might be able to help them and maybe make them that little bit less stressed."
WATCH Leading Young Carers researcher Prof Saul Becker tells Senior Correspondent Mick Coyle about Young Carer's Action Day
What help should be offered to Young Carers?
Carers Trust is calling on governments across the UK to commit to developing new action plans to protect the futures of children and young people with caring responsibilities.
They believe these plans are urgently needed to address a sharp downward spiral in the mental health of over one million young carers across the UK, and the adverse impact this is having on their aspirations, opportunities and hopes for the future.
To address these challenges, these so-called national action plans could address education, employability and health and wellbeing prospects among young people with caring responsibilities up to the age of 25.
To help make these national action plans for young carers a reality, Carers Trust is working with young carers across the UK to petition the Scottish, Welsh and UK Parliaments to ask statutory bodies to make meaningful commitments to deliver young carers’ rights across health, social care and education.
What does the government say?
A Government spokesperson said:
“Young carers perform an indispensable role in looking after their loved ones and we want to thank them for all they’ve done during these unprecedented times.
“We recognise how challenging this period is, and the Government launched a campaign last September with Every Mind Matters to raise awareness of the guidance and tools available to support children and young people’s mental wellbeing.
“Young carers must be able to take advantage of opportunities beyond their caring responsibilities and we are determined to give them the support they need. To help pupils make up for lost learning and experiences, we are investing £700 million through a dedicated catch up programme.”