EVC Spring 2026_magazine_AWdigital - Flipbook - Page 16
Young carers
in the UK
There are likely
to be two young
carers in every
class.
Around 15,000
children spend
about 50 hours
a week caring for
someone; 20%
of those are aged
between 5 and 9.
Around half of
young carers
have less than
an hour a day
to do homework,
meet friends and
enjoy hobbies
and activities.
1 in 5 young
carers have
missed out on
educational
visits or afterschool clubs
because of their
care role.
Source: Carers
Trust/Opinium,
October 2025
How you can
give young
carers a break
Andy McGowan at Carers Trust, and young adult carer Freya explain
why young carers often miss out on educational visits and residentials,
and what schools can do to support them
I
magine that you’re describing next year’s
residential to your Year 5 class. They’re
bubbling with excitement and peppering
you with questions – but one child is sitting
quietly, looking downcast. Their mother is
disabled and relies on them to care for her;
they don't think they could possibly leave
her and go away for a week. In this article,
we’ll show you how to help them – and every
young carer in your school.
Around one million young people in the UK
have some kind of caring role in their family.
Whether they have a parent with a physical
disability, mental illness or addiction or a
sibling with special educational needs and
disabilities (SEND), this role can affect their
education as well as their own wellbeing.
Caring for siblings or parents leaves
them very little time for homework, not
to mention sport, hobbies and time with
friends. So it’s no surprise that Carers
Trust data show that 1 in 5 young carers
have missed out on educational visits or
extra curricular activities. Residentials are
particularly challenging, but even a trip
to the theatre can be difficult, for example,
if it disrupts the family routine.
When they do take part, young carers
often feel guilty and are less able
to enjoy and learn from their
adventure. But they need these
experiences as much, if not
more, than their peers; not
only for the educational
benefits, but also as a
vital break from their
caring role.
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What are the barriers for young
carers going on school visits?
“My brother is autistic and he really
struggles when things are different.
I don’t want to upset him or make it
harder for my parents.”
Young carers often think that if they’re away,
it will put too much strain on the rest of
the family. They also worry about what will
happen in an emergency, such as a parent
or child being rushed into hospital. Would a
teacher take them home?
“There’s so much to organise – if I’m not
there, someone else has to do the cooking
and shopping, plus there are appointments
to rearrange and medicines to order – it’s
easier if I don’t go.”
Sometimes a young carer won’t want to be
away from home because it creates extra
work. The hardest part of caring isn’t always
the physical acts of care but the cognitive
workload of following up on referrals,
appointments and admin, so it can be too
much to add kit lists, consent forms and
information evenings to that list – not to
mention the extra cleaning and cooking
they might do in advance.
“I don’t want to ask my parents if I can go
on the trip; I know we don’t really have
the money, and they’ll hate saying no.”
Many young carers live in low-income
households, and although some will
qualify for financial support, those who
don’t may still need help, as their extra
outgoings – heating and laundry bills, taxis
to appointments, private care – can mean
there’s no money left over for residentials
and other events.
