The Carer's Trust is examining how councils across the UK are helping young people who are caring for sick or disabled family members
A UK map of support on offer to teenage and young adult carers is being created by the Carers Trust.
The charity is writing to every local authority in the UK to ask for details of what they do or are planning to do to support young people between the ages of 14 and 25, who are providing unpaid care for sick or disabled family member.
According to the 2011 Census, there are 375,000 young adult carers in the UK but the true number remains unknown as many are still hidden or unidentified.
Many struggle to access support in their communities and feel their needs are not taken seriously by their schools and colleges.
I have cared for my mum and brother nearly all of my life and not once have I been offered help - Ashleigh, aged 20
Ashleigh, 20, is a Scottish young adult carer.
She said: “My local authority has never helped me. I have cared for my mum and brother nearly all of my life and not once have I been offered help. Even through school, teachers knew I was a young carer and I still got yelled at and given detention for being late and missing homework deadlines.
“I got bullied all through school for this and every time I told the teachers, they just told me to ignore it. This resulted in me being suspended for acting out. I was taken out of my exams to deal with my brother who has ADHD and anxiety, so because of this I missed a few of my exams and I was extremely lucky to get into college.
“Now I am at college, I have spoken to extended learning, but all they say is come back if things get worse. Why should things get worse? Why should I wait till things get worse for a bit of support?
“I am getting through and passing but juggling is hard and I sadly won’t be able to attend college next year due to responsibilities at home and not enough support.”
The On the Map campaign is part of the Carers Trust's commitment to identify and raise awareness of young adult carers and ensure they receive the help and support they need.
Florence Burke, Carers Trust director for Scotland, said: “Many young adult carers have never known what help is available to them, even though their caring role often has a negative impact on their education, their health and their life chances. We want to make sure that young adult carers are a priority for local authorities and that they are taking steps to help identify, assess and support them.
“The On the Map campaign will raise awareness of the action being taken across Scotland and the rest of the UK to increase the number of young adult carers receiving information and support. We know that many areas are already providing support but in other areas there is still much to be done.”
