More than half of children and young adults who are caring for family members say that the time they spend caring has increased in the past year, new survey reveals.
A new Carers Trust survey of unpaid carers released today found that 56% of respondents say the cost-of-living crisis is always or usually hitting them and their family, and the same percentage say the time they spend caring has increased in the past year.
The poll, which had responses from 1,109 young carers (aged under 18) and young adult carers (aged 18-25), also revealed that 32% say they always or usually face additional costs because they are a carer.
Nearly half (47%) are now caring for more people than they used to.
Carers Trust’s CEO, Kirsty McHugh, said: ‘These shocking survey results show young people caring for their loved ones are being hit by a perfect storm of increasing intensity in their caring responsibilities and the spiralling cost of living.
‘It cannot be right that children and young adult carers are having to take on the burden of dealing with stretched household finances and caring for ever longer hours, to the detriment of their education and wellbeing.
‘These young people and the local organisations that support them need radical action from the UK Government now. A national strategy for unpaid carers must finally be developed after years of delay, while an overhaul of Carer’s Allowance is long overdue. Young people also tell us they urgently need support with mental health and access to breaks. It’s high time we gave them the help they so sorely need.’
