Research suggests that around 7% of young people in Scotland have caring responsibilities. It is likely that this is an underestimate as not all young carers will recognise themselves as a young carer or identify as one.

The research shows that being a young carer tends to be associated with poorer health and well-being and suggests that young carers may face challenges in participating in social activities and may feel isolated as a result. Caring may also adversely affect some young carers education particularly in terms of attendance, tiredness levels and concentration, and even bullying.

Educational settings and practitioners can be a valuable source of support for young carers and evidence suggests that children and young people engaged in young carer support projects feel recognised, supported and valued.

This resource will help practitioners recognise young carers and provides ideas about how they can effectively support them. This resource is a useful reference for whole staff or individual professional learning.

Celebrate young carers and the valuable work that they do

Balancing learning and caring responsibilities can be difficult. Online learning support and a trusted adult to talk to is vital. Education can provide opportunities for young carers to take a break from caring and to see friends.

BBC: Scottish Young Carers Festival 2019

BBC: Things Teachers Should Know About Young Carers

YouTube: Perth and Kinross Young Carers Awareness Podcast 2020

PDF: Professional Learning Pack: Working Together to support Young Carers in Perth and Kinross

Education Scotland: PDF: Supporting Young carers in education

Young Carers Awareness Training – Service provided by Carers Trust Scotland for practitioners, student teachers, and probationers

Creative ways of supporting young carers

Raise awareness of young carers among school practitioners. You can encourage young carers to identify themselves by sharing this video of a young adult carer (YouTube) with your pupils.

Education Attainment Service for Young Carers | PKAVS

West Dunbartonshire – Y Sort It

Renfrewshire’s Young Carers Packs

PDF: Stirling’s Young Carers Service

PDF: Perth and Kinross – Additional support for Young Carers

PDF: Young Scot Young Carers Newsletter: Additional COVID 19 support

Stay connected

PDF: Ideas for:

providing holistic family support and engaging parents

engaging and supporting young carers

PDF: Signposting to Family Support Helplines

Pupil voice (encourage young carer’s to have their say).

Exemplar: PDF: Perth and Kinross – Young Carers Voice

Children’s Parliament Survey Read the report summary.

PDF: Carers Trust Scotland Survey Read the report here.

Support planning for the ‘new normal’.

Exemplar: PDF: COVID 19 Personalised Emergency Information Sheet

Exemplar: PDF: Perth and Kinross – Young Carer’s ID Card

Education Scotland: Transitions in 2020

Carer’s Trust Scotland Digital Education Hub: Links to local supports services

Shared Care Scotland: Local Information for Carers.

Improvement questions

1. How do I identify the needs of young carers in the current circumstances?
2. How am I helping young carers to continue to engage in learning?
3. What support and information can I signpost young carers, their families and professionals to?
4. How can partnership working be utilised further to better support young carers’ wellbeing and to achieve and sustain positive educational outcomes?
5. How can I raise awareness of the needs of young carers during this time and ensure that their needs and voices are heard in recovery planning?
6. Are our young carers recorded in SEEMIS as having additional support needs?
7. What professional learning do I need, or can I offer, to support practitioners who work with young carers?