Please note the mention of any third-party organisaton or resource does not constitute an endorsement from The Key.
Understand the impact of being a young carer
A young carer is anyone under 18 who looks after someone in their family or a friend who is ill, disabled, or has a mental health problem or addiction.
Young carers take on practical and/or emotional caring responsibilities that would normally be expected of an adult.
This could include:
- Shopping, cooking or cleaning
- Managing medicines or money
- Providing personal care, such as helping with dressing or washing
- Providing emotional support
- Caring for younger siblings or relatives, such as taking them to and from school
Attainment: young carers typically have lower attainment and make less progress than their peers. They might struggle to focus in lessons, revise or complete homework Wellbeing: they often experience stress, tiredness and mental health problems Social isolation: young carers often feel isolated from their peers and have limited