Young Carers Action Day and the National Care Service

Paul Traynor writes about the isolation that many young carers experience, and the need for action.

Young Carers Action Day (YCAD) is on 16 March 2022. YCAD is an annual campaign day organised by Carers Trust. Now in its seventh year, it raises awareness of young carers and the immense contribution they make to their families and local communities through caring for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.

This years’ theme is Taking Action on Isolation. During the pandemic, when many services were reduced or not available, many young carers spent more time caring at home and were unable to get a break. Young carers have told us they have felt increasingly isolated from friends as a result.

Carers Trust undertook a survey at the start of this year to hear directly from young carers about their experiences. A total of 571 young carers took part across the UK, with 170 respondents based in Scotland. Our survey paints a bleak picture about the lack of support for young carers who all too often face the complexities of juggling their caring role with education.

The survey found that:

• 1 in 5 young carers were unable to take any break from their caring role.
• Over half of young carers were feeling less connected to others.
• 1 in 3 young carers didn’t feel included with their friends.
• 31% of young carers felt they don’t get enough rest or time for themselves.
• A third of young carers felt lonely.
• 42% of young carers always” or “usually” feel stressed.

This sense of anxiety in a context of loneliness and isolation is reinforced in many of the comments left by young carers in the survey:

“I’m more stressed and anxious and I just feel like I need a break.”

“My mental health is awful, and I really struggle to take time for myself at home. The only time I have away from my family is at school, but I don’t even like going to school because I get so nervous for everything and I’m always so exhausted.”

“I never got a break in almost two years, I worked hard to keep mum out of hospital as I was scared what would happen if she went in. I never get any thanks or praise for what I do…”

In response to these findings, Carers Trust Scotland are calling for young carers to have a right to access the regular breaks they need to support positive wellbeing, reduce social isolation, and live a fulfilled life alongside caring.

We know that breaks can be very beneficial for young carers, giving them time to recharge and do things they enjoy. Young carers are, and must be seen as, children and young people first and foremost and their rights must be upheld. Short breaks provide a much-needed release from the physical and emotional demands of the caring situation and help promote positive health and wellbeing.

According to Scottish Government data, as few as 3% of unpaid carers of all ages currently receive statutory support for breaks from caring. Across Scotland, there appears to be significant variation in the availability of breaks, and young carers’ experiences will be different due to a variety of factors, including where they live.

A proposed “right to a break” for unpaid carers was consulted on during the National Care Service consultation and this was welcomed by most young carers we consulted with. It is vital that this right is introduced, and that young carers do not become forgotten in the planning and implementation.

From our discussions with young carers, the hybrid model was the preferred option. This approach would achieve the best outcomes for young carers by combining a guarantee of preventative support through a non-assessed minimum entitlement, alongside a right to additional support for those with higher levels of assessed need.

The process for young carers accessing short breaks should be simple and fair. There must be flexibility on how short break budgets are used to meet the diverse needs of young carers. Considered planning is essential to ensure young carers do not become an after-thought of short break provision, recognising that their needs and requirements may be different from adult carers.

We believe that young carers having a right to the breaks they need is a progressive step to Taking Action on Isolation.

Help us get the hashtag #YoungCarersActionDay trending today, on 16 March. Here is a suggested social media post that you could share too:

I am supporting #YoungCarersActionDay 2022 and Taking Action on Isolation. For young carers having the right support – such as regular breaks from caring – can be really beneficial, giving them a better chance of succeeding in all parts of their lives. www.carers.org/ycad-2022.

This opinion is part of the ALLIANCE’s Future of Social Care series. You can find other entries in the series here.

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