Our Shared Responsibility to Young Carers

Every organisation that works with children and young people has a responsibility to recognise, understand and support young carers.

Whether in education, health, social care, youth work, or the voluntary sector, all professionals should:

Be alert to the possibility of caring responsibilities and create safe opportunities for young people to disclose.

Listen and respond without judgement, recognising the strengths and pressures young carers may experience.

Assess impact, not just circumstance — understanding how caring affects wellbeing, attendance, achievement and development.

Make reasonable adjustments to reduce disadvantage and remove barriers to participation.

Work collaboratively with families and partner agencies to ensure coordinated and consistent support.

Safeguard young carers, ensuring they are not undertaking inappropriate or harmful levels of care.

Promote aspiration and opportunity, ensuring caring does not limit future life chances.

Supporting young carers is not the responsibility of one service alone. It requires a whole-system approach built on early identification, partnership working and a shared commitment to inclusion, safeguarding and wellbeing.