Young carers are children and young people who are the main
carers of a sick or disabled parent or sibling. According to the
2011 Census, there are almost 200 000 young carers in the UK.
Young carers face serious caring responsibilities. In addition
to the daily tasks they complete for their parents such as
housework, cooking and bathing, they live with the added
pressure of school and, often, a lack of understanding from
schoolmates Young carers have the same rights as other carers
under the NHS and Community Care Act 1990. They can also be
considered "children in need" under the Children's Act 1989
depending upon whether or not the local authority considers the
child's caring role as preventing him/her from achieving or
maintaining a reasonable standard of social opportunities and
achieving full school attendance. Am I a young carer? Are you
under 18? Do you look after or help to look after someone at
home who is disabled, sick, elderly, experiencing mental health
problems or unable to look after themselves