Young Unpaid Carers rise to 140,000

The latest census has revealed that there has been a rise in Young Carers who are providing more than 20 hours a week of unpaid care to a family member. Over the past decade, the number of young people under the age of 24 who act as Young Carers has climbed to 140,000.

The 2011 census found that 43,950 young people aged 18 to 24 provided between 20 to 49 hours of unpaid care per week, which has grown to 71,120 in the 2021 census.

The census also found that there was a higher percentage of unpaid Carers in the most deprived areas of the country, in comparison with less deprived areas. People living in the most deprived areas were also more likely to provide more than 50 hours of unpaid care per week.

YMCA Sutton Coldfield works in partnership with Birmingham Carers Hub to provide a Young Adult Carers Service for those aged between 18 and 25 who is caring for someone living in Birmingham. Our Young Adult Carers Service provides a range of free support at a variety of venues across the city including sixth forms and colleges. Click here to see how we can help or if you would like to meet a member of the team, take a look at our drop-in timetable.

If you are young carer and aged under the age of 18 year, and you look after a family member who has a disability or an illness living in Birmingham, contact Spurgeons. 

Spurgeons is an externally commissioned service providing a wide range of support and services for Young Carers. You can find out more and contact them here. If you are under the age of 18 then you usually need parental permission for you to be able to join Spurgeons Young Carers