The long-term effects of being a young carer

This project will research inequalities in the health, social participation, work and education of young carers.

The 2011 census showed there were 178,000 carers aged under 18 in England and Wales, but this was likely to be an underestimate. The current figure is also likely to be higher, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is an increased need for carers in the UK, and young people are increasingly likely to take on these caring responsibilities due to a number of societal changes. These include the ageing population with more years spent in poor health, people having children at older ages, smaller families and an increase in single-parent families. Young carers are recognised as a particularly vulnerable group.

Providing quantitative data on young carers’ experiences

While qualitative studies have highlighted a number of challenges young carers face, we need quantitative analysis of up-to-date, nationally representative data on the long-term effects of caring on young carers’ health, wellbeing, education, employment, and social participation over time.

The research team will use the innovative eDataSHIELD method to pool and analyse the Office for National Statistics Longitudinal Study, The Scottish Longitudinal Study, and the Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study. This will be supplemented by analysis of the UK Household Longitudinal Study linked to the National Pupil Database.

Objectives

The four main objectives of the project are to:

1. Investigate the long-term health and wellbeing effects of being a young carer
2. Identify whether being a young carer affects social participation, including adult partnerships, peer relationships, and participation in organised social activities
3. Assess whether being a young carer affects educational attainment and post-compulsory education and employment transitions
4. Describe inequalities in long-term outcomes for young carers with respect to gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic inequalities, to highlight which young carers are most at risk and in need of targeted support.

Advisory panel, findings and impact

Project partners the Carers Trust will convene an advisory panel of young carers who will help shape the research and dissemination plans, and co-produce a project output as part of Young Carers Action Day 2025. The research team will engage a wide group of stakeholders in the project findings, including policymakers, parliamentarians, care recipients, GPs, and school and education leaders, to raise awareness of the role young carers play and the need to identify and support them.