Carers Trust estimate that there are at least one million young carers aged 17 and under in the UK and over 600,000 young adult carers between the ages of 18 and 25.
This Council notes that:
- Carers Trust estimate that there are at least one million young carers aged 17 and under in the UK and over 600,000 young adult carers between the ages of 18 and 25;
- 1. In [OUR AREA], [NUMBER] of young carers are formally identified by the Department for Education, but the true number of young carers in [OUR AREA] is likely to be far higher;
- 2. Young carers miss an average of 23 school days per year and young adult carers are four times more likely to drop out of college or university;
- 3. Caring responsibilities can affect young carers' readiness to engage fully in school life, adding barriers to punctuality, their capacity to complete homework, and their ability to focus and participate effectively in lessons.
Therefore, this Council resolves to mark Young Carers Action Day on 13 March 2025 by:
- 1. Signing up to the Young Carers Covenant, published by Carers Trust in March 2024.
- 2. Working alongside all schools and colleges to deliver Young Carer Awareness Training for staff so that they can recognise and address the challenges faced by young carers.
- 3. Encouraging schools and colleges to mark Young Carers Action Day by providing guidance, assembly plans, and awareness-raising materials.