Young carers ‘miss out on childhood’
A Rowlands Gill woman who’s been a young carer since the age of two says many are too afraid to ask for help.
It's as new research shows 80% of young carers are missing out on their childhood.
22 year old Beth Dodgson juggles caring for her mam and brother, university and a job alongside dealing with her own illnesses.
This means any ‘me’ time or dates with friends must be planned weeks in advance.
She first began her role as a young carer aged two, when her mam had an epileptic seizure. Beth managed to call up her grandparents who sent help.
Since then the responsibilities have grown, she helps her brother dress, eat and take his medication for mental and physical disabilities, she cooks, cleans and cares for her mam who suffers epilepsy, diabetes and non-alcoholic liver disease.
All the while, Beth suffers epilepsy herself and chronic fatigue syndrome.
She wasn’t identified until much later in her childhood and is calling on the government to help primary schools spot the signs sooner.
“It is better in secondary schools but I think a lot of primary schools are keeping it quiet. They say it’s not there but it is there, it’s just that a young child doesn’t know how to speak their voice and say I am a young carer. I was worried about bullying, I thought there was a stigma but there isn’t.”
“Some children won’t think that they are a young carer, if they’ve been a young carer since they were three or four it will just be second nature. They won’t think they’re any different.”
“A lot of the time I am exhausted but I just think I’m not that tired, I can keep going a bit more. I push myself too hard, it will get to the point every now and then where I have to spend a day or two in bed just to recover.”
Gail Scott-Spicer, CEO of Carers Trust, said:
"Thousands of young carers across the UK are missing out on their childhoods because they are caring for an ill family member. Playing out with friends, going on trips and to the cinema are some of the things that most young people look forward to, but for many young carers their reality is cleaning, shopping and cooking instead.”
"As part of Young Carers Awareness Day, we want as many people as possible to help identify and raise awareness of young carers and the invaluable work they do.
"We want these children to be able to live a full life, like their friends, which means they won't be missing out on their childhoods - getting the help and support they desperately need."
To find information and support for young carers, visit: or