Why is this study important
Young carers are often marginalised, their voices unheard, and their needs unrecognised. It is therefore vital to raise awareness of these concerns in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are an estimated 800,000 young carers in the UK under the age of 18. Within this cohort some children as young as five years of age are recognised as young carers under the Care Act 2014 and Children and Families Act 2014 definition of providing excessive and/or inappropriate care. In the 2011 Census 41% of identified young carers were aged 10 – 14. Among older young carers, there are a significant number of adolescents aged 16-25 who have their own specific needs in relation to their transition to adulthood and their aspirations for the future. These are children and young people who provide essential care for their families, often 24 hours a day and over the course of their whole childhood. The nature and intensity of the care provided can have a detrimental impact on their own social, economic and educational wellbeing as well as their physical and mental health, which may carry forward into adulthood. Despite this, research consistently shows that young carers are a vulnerable and often hidden group, falling through the gaps of both public policy and health and social care services.
The global pandemic of the COVID-19 virus will undoubtedly have far reaching implications for young carers. While it would seem that children and young people are less likely to experience significant physiological effects from the virus itself, the indirect impact of attempts to counter the spread of the virus are highly likely to have a major impact on their psychological well-being. Alongside this, the support systems in place are struggling under increased pressure, potentially drawing the focus away from the needs of these marginalised young carers. This is one likely outcome of the potential Care Act easements, created under the Coronavirus Act 2020, which allow local authorities to suspend their duty to assess and meet eligible support needs of carers.
Aims of the Study
The study aims to benefit young carers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the following ways:
- Increase the recognition of young people providing care – promoting an awareness across services of the impact that changes in service provision will have on young carers.
- Capture the views of young carers about their current experiences in order to inform the provision of effective support and identify urgent support needs.
- Consider whether any child living with a parent with long-term physical health condition, disability or mental ill health is considered as a young carer throughout this pandemic.
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