Being a young carer: recognising it and looking after yourself

Many young people help look after a parent, sibling or grandparent who is ill or disabled, often without realising they are a carer. Caring can be meaningful, but you deserve support too.

Are you a young carer?

• The NHS defines a young carer as someone under 18 who helps look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem.
• Carers Trust describes young adult carers as aged 18 to 25.
• Caring tasks can include cooking, housework and shopping, helping someone dress or get out of bed, giving medicine, managing money, looking after siblings and giving emotional support (Carers Trust).
• In England alone, the 2021 Census counted about 120,000 young carers aged 5 to 17, and Carers Trust says the real number is likely much higher.
• In close, multi-generational GCC families, helping a relative is part of love and duty. You can honour that and still notice when the load is too heavy.

How caring can affect you

• Health for Kids notes young carers may miss school, struggle to keep friendships and feel sad, isolated or overwhelmed.
• Carers Trust reports that young carers tend to have lower educational attainment than their peers.
• The NHS says young people should not take on adult carer responsibilities, or caring that interferes with school or normal time with friends.
• The NHS also says you can decide how much help to offer. Saying 'I can do this, but not that' is not selfish.

Looking after yourself

• Protect time for sleep, schoolwork and one thing you enjoy each week. It keeps you able to care.
• Tell one trusted adult what is happening at home: a relative, teacher or school counsellor.
• Health for Kids suggests asking school about extra time for work or emotional support.
• Keep a simple list of what you do each week. It helps you and adults see the true workload.
• Notice warning signs in yourself: constant tiredness, falling grades, withdrawing from friends. These are signals to ask for help. See the Mental Health module for where to get support.

Getting support

• Families can often share caring among more relatives, or with professional help, so that no single young person carries it all. Raise this calmly at a family meeting.
• If the person you care for sees a doctor or nurse, they may be able to arrange extra support at home (Health for Kids).
• In the UK, young carers have a right to a young carer's assessment from the local council, and the NHS lists the Carers Direct helpline, 0300 123 1053.
• Carers Trust local services offer breaks, peer groups, advice and emotional support.
• If you study abroad, university student services can also help if you are still supporting family at home.