Young Carers: What To Do
Children and young people providing care for a family member.
Last revised
It affects education and mental health, and most young carers are not identified until something goes wrong.
Key takeaways
- Legal right: a young carer's needs assessment from the local authority
- Schools: many have a young carers lead
- Most useful single change: Tell the school; support and flexibility usually follow.
- Commonest mistake: Assuming the young person will raise it themselves.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
Do
- Tell the school; support and flexibility usually follow
- Request a young carer's needs assessment
- Connect with a local young carers service
Do not
- Assuming the young person will raise it themselves
- Letting caring responsibilities displace school
The figures behind the list
Each item above follows from these, published in the guidance named at the foot of the page.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Legal right | a young carer's needs assessment from the local authority |
| Schools | many have a young carers lead |
| Impact | attendance, attainment and mental health |
| Childline | 0800 1111 |
Where to go next
- Myths About Young Carers, Checked Against the Guidance
- New to Young Carers? Start Here
- Young Carers — the reference entry
- Caring at a Distance: What the Evidence Actually Says
- The Evidence on End of Life Caring, Without the Hype
When to get help
Contact the local authority if a young person is providing care beyond what is appropriate for their age, or if their education or health is suffering. Childline is free on 0800 1111. Call 999 or contact children's social care if a child is at risk.
Where this comes from
- NHS — Young carers rights
- Carers Trust — young carers
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.