Young Carers Action Day 2026
Young Carers
Young Carers Action Day 2026 takes place on Wednesday 11th March and focuses on the theme ‘Fair Futures for Young Carers’
This year, young carers will be gathering in Westminster, Edinburgh and Cardiff to call on politicians and decision-makers for more support in schools for young carers, so they have the same opportunities to thrive and succeed like other young people.
The Carers Trust is joining young carers in calling for a Young Carer Lead in every school and education setting. This will help young carers get the support they need to balance their schoolwork with the pressures of their caring role.
There are an estimated one million young carers in the UK, including some as young as five. Many take on serious responsibilities; data from the Carers Trust shows that:
- Over one in five have to regularly get up at night to help the person they care for.
- One in five give first aid.
- Almost half are responsible for giving medicine.
- A third have to help the person they care for get washed or dressed.
These responsibilities often affect their education. Fewer than half of young carers leave secondary school with five GCSEs, and less than half leave primary school with expected standards in reading, writing, and maths.
Lived experience
Hear from Sarah and Ezra (aged 15 and 13), two young carers, as they explain the challenges they’ve faced, in the video below.
Young Carers Lead
With many young carers having to spend 3-4 hours every day on their caring role, the time they have to spend on homework, friendships and hobbies is severely restricted. They need support at school to make sure they can balance their caring role alongside their schoolwork.
Politicians and decision-makers can take action to help young carers make the most of their learning opportunities in education by having a Young Carers Lead in every school.
A Young Carers Lead is a designated member of staff responsible for identifying young carers and ensuring they get the support they need. Having a Young Carers Lead helps schools to:
- Understand a young carer’s individual needs.
- Support young carers in balancing caring responsibilities with learning.
- Improve opportunities for young carers and their well-being.
Effective action
Watch this video filmed at Kender Primary School in London to see what effective support for young carers in schools looks like. Young carers and the Young Carers Lead at Kender Primary explain why support for young carers in school is so important.