UK Launches Young Carers Plan for 130,000 Under-18s as Charities Say 1 Million Need Help
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 20
UK Launches Young Carers Plan for 130,000 Under-18s as Charities Say 1 Million Need Help
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 20
Summary
July's government action plan promises better school support and closer coordination between the NHS, social care and education for young carers in England.
130,000 under-18s are officially recorded as carers in England and Wales, but Carers Trust says the real number could reach 1 million, with another 500,000 aged 18 to 25.
More than 50 hours of weekly care can damage education and social life; young carers are 25% less likely to secure five GCSE passes including English and maths and twice as likely to be out of education, work or training long term.
Councils already must assess young carers, but charities say many go unidentified for years and adult social-care thresholds remain too high to meaningfully reduce the burden.
Ava-Grace Britton, 17, who helps care for her father after multiple strokes, illustrates the wider pressure the plan is meant to address as families say support remains patchy.