Young carers in the UK
01 April 2004
This is the report of the third national survey of young carers who are being supported by specialist young carers projects across the UK. Based on data for more than 6,000 young carers, the report provides a detailed and intricate statistical profile of what young carers do in terms of their caring roles and responsibilities, and of the care needs of the people for whom they provide support.
- The average age of young carers in contact with projects is 12.
- 56% of young carers are living in lone parent families.
- Nearly one in five young carers provide intimate personal care, a small improvement since the second national survey conducted in 1997.
- Almost one fifth of young carers are providing more than 20 hours of care each week.
- More than a quarter of young carers of secondary school age are having problems in school, a slight improvement since 1997.
Young carers in the UK
2004. Carers UK and The Children's Society by Chris Dearden and Saul Becker
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