New research from Carers Trust highlights thousands of young carers in the UK have very little time for schoolwork, friendships or rest.
The survey, conducted by Opinium Research, included 350 cares aged between eight and 17. The findings can be described as nothing short of bleak.
According to the research, which was published just yesterday, three in five young carers (59%) spend at least three hours a day caring, which is equivalent to 21 hours a week. What’s more, 44% spend between three to four hours caring, with eight to 11 year-olds being the most likely to fall into such a category.
The impact the role has on young people’s education and wellbeing is stark. Over half ( 57%) of respondents said they had less than an hour a day to complete their homework, spend time with their friends (49%) or enjoy hobbies (50%). Almost a third also reported feeling stressed or worried due to their responsibilities, while 29% said they weren’t getting enough sleep.
Isla, 17, from Hampshire, was one of the young carers who took part in the survey. She cares for her sibling who has Pathological Demand Avoidance, which is a profile of autism.
‘As a young carer, our lives often don’t feel like ours,’ Isla said. ‘From a young age, we grow into very caring people who put the needs of others before our own. It is very difficult to focus on ourselves without feeling selfish or like we are neglecting the person we care for. It is also hard to focus on our own lives in a practical sense.
‘I have experienced very disturbed sleep when my sibling was struggling at night and have found education difficult, often I feel very tired while studying. I am also always worrying about whether my sibling is okay, making it hard to concentrate. Education is of course important but so is living our lives. I have missed attending youth club due to my caring role and it is often much harder to see friends.’
Arguably, the survey couldn’t have come at a better time. Not only have the findings been published at the beginning of a new academic year, but they coincide with separate research, which was also completed by the Carers Trust. The data shows more than 50,000 children and young adults are caring for at least 50 hours a week. That includes 3,000 aged from just five to nine.
Against this backdrop, the charity is calling on the government to provide better support.
‘These alarming findings show what many young carers understand all too well – that lack of support cuts off opportunities that other kids take for granted,’ Kirsty McHugh, CEO of the Carers Trust, said. ‘Every aspect of your life can be affected, from how you do in school to whether you can see your friends. This can affect children as young as five and the impact extends all the way into adulthood.’
The survey was conducted as part of Carers’ Trust’s ‘Being There Matters’ campaign, of which more information can be accessed here.
On the topic of raising awareness, Carers Trust is also set to host its annual Young Carers Futures Conference on 23rd October 2025.
Photo by Maxim Tolchinskiy via UnSplash
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