Unpaid UK carers ‘face financial hit that can last decades’
Loss of income, curbs on benefits and soaring bills are piling pressure on people caring for family members
March 2024
Young carers in England and Wales ‘forced out of education’ by benefit rules
Charities and education providers say young carers should be eligible for welfare when they study more than 21 hours a week
January 2021
Blooms of hope: the gardening groups delivering smiles during lockdown
From Wales to Walthamstow, volunteers are unearthing the healing power of nature, and connecting communities
June 2020
Stop calling family carers a 'hidden army'. We're not invisible, just ignored
Mina Akhtar
Successive governments have repeatedly overlooked the contribution of unpaid carers and failed to meet their needs
August 2017
Young carers are valuable and need proper housing of their own
Sarah Woolley
Young adult carers who spend hours looking after their loved ones shouldn’t do so at the expense of their own lives, health or housing
February 2016
This is the NHS
The secret trainee social worker's diary: 'My experiences as a carer help me'
Mentoring young people who look after parents with mental health problems is part of the preparation for a fast-track graduate programme
June 2015
Three simple changes that could ease the burden faced by young carers
Campaigners say changes could make it possible for young people with caring responsibilities to continue their studies or train for a job
January 2015
I’m a child carer
Lili shops, cooks, cleans and helps to look after her disabled mother, and her younger brother and sister. Kate Hilpern meets a bright, creative eight-year-old girl, who is one of thousands of Britain’s young carers
November 2014
Hidden army of young carers to be uncovered under new legislation
Louise Tickle
Louise Tickle: Councils’ have a new duty to identify and support up to 700,000 children as young as six who care for ill parents but how will these young carers’ needs be met by social care services?
October 2014
Social life blog
Young carers often feel isolated and counselling can help – I should know
Teen hero Caitlin Buckard, who cares for her sister, mentors other children at her school who struggle emotionally
September 2014
Young carers learn about the restaurant trade – in pictures
Arts charity Create teamed up with cookery school Mosimann’s Academy for a week-long project, where young carers produced a ‘restaurant experience’ and took a break from their responsibilities
December 2013
Why young carers need support if they are to do well at school
Mohamed Pervez
Mohamed Pervez: A council initiative aims to stop pupils who have to care for sick or disabled parents falling behind with school work
June 2013
Overwhelmed young carers face the same issues worldwide
Ernest Mwangi and David N Jones
As young carers in England meet for their annual festival, Ernest Mwangi and David N Jones reflect on the first African young carer forum
May 2013
Thousands of children as young as five act as family carers, figures show
More than 177,000 minors act look after relatives, with charities warning long hours affect schoolwork and childhood
Children are picking up the caring roles the state has abandoned
Moira Fraser
Moira Fraser: With hundreds of thousands of under-18s looking after someone, the issue is huge yet the government has done nothing to help
Life lessons
Living with MSA: memories for my daughter - video
Sam has MSA, a disorder that will leave her unable to move and speak. Her daughter Rhanna is 16 and has had to grow up fast to care for her mum
February 2013
Life as a young carer
Sarah Thomas, 18, started looking after her mother, who has MS, from a very early age, and later became her dad's carer too. Interview by Kate Hilpern
July 2012
Living with families affected by HIV and Aids – video
Ahead of the international Aids 2012 conference, a film made by young people with parents affected by HIV and Aids gives their moving accounts
October 2011
Children's minister warns welfare reforms could undermine young carers
Letter by Tim Loughton exposes Conservative divisions over benefits as House of Lords begins welfare debate
