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Young adult carers: Balancing caring and their own futures
Published
Read Freda’s story and learn how, with the right support, young adult carers can achieve their future ambitions despite the challenges of caring.
Who are young adult carers?
Young adult carers are people aged 16–24 who care for a family member, including siblings with special educational needs or disabilities. Alongside the usual challenges of growing up, they face added pressures that can impact their future.
Overcoming disadvantages
Nearly half of young adult carers are not in education, employment, or training. Many also experience mental health issues which can be compounded by their caring responsibilities. As they think about their futures, young adult carers may feel limited by their caring role and experience guilt about wanting to go away to university, for example.
Gloucestershire Young Carers offers a dedicated service (YACS) for this age group, providing 1:1 support, workshops, activities, and opportunities for connection. We aim to help young adult carers work through their challenges so that they are able to thrive and achieve their ambitions.
Meet Freda…
Freda, 21, cares for her brother who has Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and hypermobility. She helps with cooking, cleaning, medication, and gives a high level of emotional support.
Freda struggled with the transition to adulthood, receiving little support in or out of college. Her anxiety about her brother’s condition nearly stopped her from applying to university and she missed out on social events and clubs. However, since starting university, she’s found new hobbies, friends, and confidence. She says “If I had more support at 16, I would have felt more confident about higher education and work.” Her university now offers a peer support group for young adult carers.
Five tips from young adult carers for a well-supported transition:
- Listen to Me as an Individual -Every caring situation is different. Don’t assume—ask what support I need.
- Help Me Plan for My Future- I want to work, study, or travel. Help me plan so my caring role doesn’t hold me back.
- Don’t Forget About Me When I Turn 18 -Turning 18 doesn’t end my caring. Ensure there’s a clear plan as I move into adult services.
- Support My Mental Health - Caring is emotionally exhausting. I need someone who understands and can help me cope.
- Make Services Easier to Navigate - Juggling life and caring is hard. Help me access services without repeating my story.
More info or to make a referral
Find our details on Support for Families with SEND, Gloucestershire's Local Offer. Young Adult Carers can find more resources on our website.
Do you know someone aged 8–24 with a caring role for a family member?
Refer them at glosyoungcarers.org.uk or call us for a confidential chat: 01452 733060