Young Carers

A young carer is a young person under the age of 18

that provides support and care for someone

with a disability, illness, ill mental health condition,

or has a dependency on drugs and or alcohol.

A young carer can provide support and care for someone

they live with, which could be their parents,

siblings, grandparents etc

Older young carers (18-25 years old) are also known

as young adult carers and they may have

different support needs to younger carers.

They may provide practical or physical care, help with personal care, and help with domestic tasks and/or emotional support.

Young carers may face serious caring responsibilities, in addition to the daily tasks they complete for their parents such as housework, cooking and bathing, and they may live with the added pressure of school and, often, a lack of understanding from schoolmates.

How many young carers are there?

According to the 2021 Census, there are over 22,500 young carers and young adult carers in Wales.

However, the true number is likely much higher, as many young carers are not formally identified. That’s why it's so important for young carers to feel safe coming forward—so they can receive the recognition and support they deserve.

Carer's Assessment

Young carers can request an assessment, an assessment gives you a chance to talk to someone about what support might make caring easier.

Young Carer Assessment

Identifying as a Young Carer

If you’re a young person helping to care for a family member — whether due to illness, disability, mental health issues or substance misuse — you may be a young carer.

Letting your school know can make a big difference. You can:

Speak to a trusted teacher
Ask to speak to the school’s Young Carers Lead

Identifying yourself means your school can better understand your needs and offer support that could include:

flexible homework deadlines
extra wellbeing support
access to young carer groups

Many schools also provide a Young Carer ID card, helping staff quickly recognise and support you without needing to explain your situation repeatedly.

Young Carers ID Card

If you would like to request a Young Carers ID Card, please email your request to:

valeyoungcarers@ymcacardiff.wales or ring 02920 465250 and someone from the Young Carers team will be in contact with you.

Vale Young Carers Project

The young carers project in the Vale of Glamorgan is run by YMCA Cardiff and is funded by Vale of Glamorgan Council.

This club is only for young people who have been accepted onto the Project. Please contact the Families First Advice Line to make a referral

0800 032 7322
familiesfirstadviceline@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

This Project will be providing regular respite activities to young carers in the Vale, aged 7 – 18, giving them an opportunity to socialise, make friends and have fun!

Vale Young Carers

The Young Carers Youth Club at the YMCA Hub, Court Road, Barry, CF63 4EE, is open is open every Thursday & Friday evening during term time.

The ages are divided across the two days, with the juniors’ (primary school age) club taking place every Thursday from 4pm – 5:30pm during term time

and the seniors’ (comprehensive school age) club taking place every Friday from 4pm – 5:30pm during term time.

Vale Young Carers - YMCA Cardiff

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Young Carers in Schools Programme (YCiSP)

The Young Carers in Schools Programme supports primary and secondary schools across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, helping them to recognise and meet the needs of young carers.

Our aim is to reduce the negative impact of caring responsibilities and ensure young carers have the same access to education, wellbeing, and future opportunities as their peers.

We work directly with schools, providing them with tools, resources and guidance to develop a whole-school approach to supporting young carers. The programme focuses on five key areas:

Understanding young carers
Informing school staff and communities
Identifying young carers early
Listening to young carers’ voices
Supporting them effectively in education

The Young Carers in Schools Programme is funded by the Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board.

To find out more or get involved, please contact: hello@tuvida.org