Norfolk charity supporting carers speaks out as inquiry launched
The first ever parliamentary inquiry on the issue launches this afternoon
Last updated 7th Jun 2023
A Norfolk charity that supports carers says a "greater buy in from decision-makers" is key to helping young carers.
It's as the first ever parliamentary inquiry on the issue launches today.
It will examine the short and long-term effects that caring for somebody can have on children and young people.
There are an estimated one million young carers aged under-18 in the UK, with many more young adults who hold similar responsibilities.
How are young carers being affected?
A report from University College London released in May showed that young adult carers were 38% less likely to get a degree than their peers, while those caring for more than 35 hours a week were 86% less likely.
Carers aged 23 or over were also less likely than non-carers to enter employment.
Carers Trust found that over half of young adult carers were spending more time caring than the year before, while 47% are looking after more people than they used to.
Since the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers was started last year, they have heard that children as young as five are looking after family members, meaning they are often taking on responsibilities way beyond their years.
The 2021 census has found that 1,771 children aged five to seven were caring for more than 50 hours a week – a figure that has increased in the past decade.
"We don't traditionally think of children as being young carers"
Belinda Jones is from Caring Together, a group that spoke to MPs on this in April:
"You need the awareness raising in all areas to ensure that young carers are identified. That's the key thing, when you have found these people then you can create services.
"Funding is something that is always going to be an issue, but more money is needed to ensure that local authorities can ensure that services are available in their communities.
"I think we don't traditionally think of children as being young carers. This is why it's so vital to raise awareness in education and with healthcare professionals to make sure they are able to help with identification."
"They have stress, anxiety, exhaustion"
"This inquiry will really raise the profile of young carers. We work all of the time to do that, but we really need that buy in nationally and from a higher level to ensure that culture is embedded in every organisation.
"Everyday we see the huge impact that a caring responsibility can have on a young person. It's around their mental and physical health. They have stress, anxiety, exhaustion.
We know that their attendance at school or college is affected and they can suffer from social isolation."
What happens next?
The All-Party Parliamentary Group inquiry launches at 5pm today.
It's being supported by a group of 11 youth advisors and the Carers Trust. The Online launch event will mark the opening of the group's call for evidence.