Last Updated: May 1, 2026

With Young Carers Action Day taking place on 12th March, we explore this year’s theme – ‘Give me a break’ – and look at the plight of young carers in the UK today.

Young Carers Action Day is an annual, UK-wide event organised by the Carers Trust, which raises awareness of the importance of young carers across the country. This year it takes place on Wednesday 12th March and the theme is ‘Give me a break’, centring on young carers needing physical breaks, time to themselves and also metaphorical breaks by education institutes and employers.

Young carers shoulder a lot of responsibility and are at risk of burning out, with little opportunity for respite or time to themselves. According to the Carers Trust, young carers are significantly more likely to report severe psychological distress than peers who do not inhabit a caring role. The ‘Give me a break’ theme highlights the need for young carers to take time out from their responsibilities to rest and focus on their own needs, see friends, pursue a hobby and recharge their batteries.

The theme also highlights the need for education professionals and employers to give young carers a break in life, recognising that students who are in a caring role may need more support at school and may be experiencing overwhelm at juggling their schoolwork along with their responsibilities as a carer. As the Carers Trust puts it, ‘All young carers need is for schools, colleges, universities and employers to give them a break.’

Who counts as a young carer?

A young carer is someone under the age of 18 who helps to look after a relative who has a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem – usually a parent or sibling. The caring role may involve undertaking lots of domestic tasks, such as cooking and cleaning, and may extend to physical help, such as helping a relative to get dressed or move around. It may also include providing emotional support. For some young carers, their role begins at an early age and these young people don’t always realise they are carers, while for others, becoming a young carer can happen all of a sudden.

According to The Children’s Society, ‘The 2021 ONS census reported that there are around 120,000 young carers aged five to 18 in England, while the school census in 2023 suggested that there were 39,000 “known” young carers in the country. Meanwhile, a 2018 BBC survey found that there were as many as 820,000 young carers aged 11-15.’

According to the Carers Trust, across the whole of the UK there are an estimated one million young carers. The Carers Trust also found that ‘the intensity of young adult carers’ roles is increasing, with more than half (56%) saying the time they spent caring is rising, and nearly half (47%) now caring for more people than they used to’.

What support is available for young carers?

Young carers’ assessment:

If a young carer – or their parents – request it, the local council must organise a young carers’ assessment, which identifies what help the young person and their family may need. The assessment also takes into account whether the young person wants to be a carer and how appropriate it is for them to be caring for someone else. If the young carer is over the age of 16 and spends at least 35 hours a week caring for someone, they may also be eligible for Carer’s Allowance, which will be identified in the carers’ assessment. They will also be able to apply for a Young Carer Card, which can help young people to explain they are a young carer and also may provide the young person with discounts at local businesses or online.

Respite opportunities:

Short breaks and respite care provide young carers with time away from their caring responsibilities. UK children’s charity Honeypot provides countryside respite breaks and a wraparound service to young carers (aged 5-12) requiring support, working with an extensive referral network of professional children’s welfare organisations across the UK. Charity MYTIME’s Making Memories programme provides young carers (aged 8- 25) residential retreats and activity days.

Young carer groups:

  • The Children’s Society can signpost young carers to support groups in their local area and also runs the annual Young Carers Festival. This year the event will be 27th – 29th June.
  • Sense offers online and in-person support and activities for young carers under the age of 18.
  • The Mix runs group chats for any carers aged up to 25 years old.

Other organisations that can help:

Financial support:

  • Turn 2 Us allows young carers to search for grants based on where they live and their age.

For more information about the support available for carers and young carers, click here