With the school summer holidays underway spare a thought for Suffolk’s younger carers. Unlike many of their peers results from a recent survey carried out by Action for Children shows that over a third of Britain’s younger carers (11-18) do not look forward to the summer break. While many of their friends are enjoying time off away from school or taking a summer holiday, hundreds of thousands of young carers will be at home cooking, cleaning and looking after the person they care for. The research shows that more than a quarter (27%) feel they will not be able to take a break from their caring role during the holidays. This feeling is almost twice as high with girls (31%) than boys (16%). The survey not only highlights the increased workload undertaken by these younger carers but also shows that the majority (82%) feel lonely at least some of the time with nearly a third (32%) feel lonely for most of the holidays.
In addition to worries and concerns about not being able to take a break the survey also revealed that the vast majority of younger carers (86%) feel more stressed or worried during the summer holidays than during term-time with over a quarter (26%) spending over 10 hours a day during what is meant to be a summer break caring for family members. This is the equivalent of half of their holidays. During term time the number of younger carers performing the same hours in a caring role is less than one in ten (12%) caring for the same time.
Jess Searle, Suffolk Family Carers project manager for young carers and young adult carers said “School holidays can be a tough time for young carers and young adult carers as they spend more time at home carrying out their caring role. At Suffolk Family Carers summer is one of our busiest times as we organise a number of additional activities and events to give younger carers time away from home and an opportunity to mix with friends and others in a similar situation to reduce loneliness”
There are an estimated one million young carers across the UK looking after a family member with a disability, illness or mental health problem – some as young as five years old. Typically, young carers help with practical tasks around the home such as cooking, housework and shopping; physical care, such as helping someone out of bed; and personal care, such as helping someone dress.
A separate survey undertaken by Carers Trust earlier in the year showed that then intensity of young carer and young adult carers’ roles is increasing, with more than half (56%) saying the amount of time they spent caring was rising. Nearly half (47%) also said they are now caring for more people than they used to.
