A report has found 49% of young carers (aged under 18) and young adult carers (aged 18-25) said they missed out on education or training because of their caring role.
Around 75% also said their caring role has made it difficult to take part in education or training opportunities, and they felt they were falling behind their peers.
Carers Trust, a UK charity supporting unpaid carers, conducted the inquiry to understand the barriers young carers face in education and employment.
Simmi Woodwal, CEO of The Honeypot Children’s Charity which supports young carers aged 5-12 with respite and wellbeing breaks, said: “The Carers Trust findings reflect what we see every day through Honeypot’s work supporting young carers.
“Children who are balancing school with significant caring responsibilities are at real risk of falling behind unless they are identified early and properly supported.
Barriers to higher education, employment and training
The inquiry outlined a number of barriers to these often-overlooked carers.
In 2025, fewer than half leave secondary school with five GCSE passes, and many feel they lack the confidence or opportunity to pursue higher education.
Carers Trust’s 2021 Census showed that over 130,000 young people in Britain provide over 20 hours of unpaid care per week, with over 40,000 of them caring for more than 50 hours a week – leaving little time to focus on studies.
It is therefore unsurprising that in the inquiry 38% of young adult carers said they had either had to turn down or not apply for a job because of their caring responsibilities.
Financial pressures also weigh heavily, with many worried they cannot afford to continue learning.
This comes as youth unemployment rates come under scrutiny and the Milburn review begins to work out how to tackle the youth unemployment issue.
Policy and systematic failures
The inquiry states that many youth employment and social mobility programmes still fail to fully recognise the unique challenges faced by young carers.
Many young adult carers are also often excluded from youth or adult datasets, leaving a blind spot in support services.
This is particularly concerning as youth unemployment continues to rise in London, highlighting the pressing need for policies that support all young people, including carers.
How to secure a better future
Based on the inquiry evidence, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers calls for better identification and support in schools.
By ensuring schools had dedicated young carer policies and leads, support would become more accessible.
The APPG also called for the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions to improve data related to young adult carers, and set out how they intend to ensure that young adult carers have access to financial support which does not force them to choose between education or caring.
The Carers Trust report concluded: “Right now, too many young adult carers are being left to take on significant caring responsibilities, without the practical, emotional and financial support to ensure that they have a fair future.
“Young adult carers told us that all too often they feel forgotten. Collectively we need to change this so that every young carer and young adult carer has genuine choices for their lives and their futures.”
Woodwal, The Honeypot Children’s Charity, adds: “We welcome the APPG’s call for Government action – to ensure young carers are recognised, supported in schools, and given the chance to thrive, not just cope.”
The Department for Education was approached for comment.
Feature image: The Honeypot Children’s Charity
Join the discussion