Why are young carers hidden?

There are lots of services that could potentially help young carers, but most young carers remain unsupported throughout their childhoods. We found that 75% of young carers in one area were not known by teachers to be carers.

All agencies that support adults can amend their assessment procedures to include some quick and simple questions:

1. Do you have children?
2. How does your health problem affect them?
3. How can we support you in your role as a parent?
4. What support do other members of your family need?

All agencies that support children can be aware of the signs that someone is a young carer and ensure their service is sensitive to young carers’ needs.