Marking Young Carers Action Day 2025
Bristol’s Liberal Democrat councillors are drawing attention to the thousands of young carers in the city in recognition of Young Carers Action Day 2025. Although only about 500 young carers have been formally identified, the real figure is expected to be as high as 4,800.
Young Carers Action Day 2025 is taking place on 12th March and is part of a national campaign to bring attention to a group that is often over-looked.
The NHS says that “You're a young carer if you're under 18 and help to look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem. If you're a young carer, you probably look after one of your parents or care for a brother or sister.
“You may do extra jobs in and around the home, such as cooking, cleaning or helping someone get dressed and move around. You may also give a lot of physical help to a parent, brother or sister who's disabled or ill. Along with doing things to help your brother or sister, you may be giving them and your parents emotional support, too.”
The Liberal Democrats’ motion calls for Bristol City Council to sign up to the Carers Trust’s Young Carers Covenant. The organisation describes the covenant as “a UK-wide commitment to young carers and young adult carers. It sets out ten key outcomes that young carers from across the UK have said are key to improving their lives.”
The motion also calls for the council to ensure that it is working with schools and colleges to raise awareness around young carers. So many young carers may not realise that they are in fact young carers, meaning that it is essential that organisations work together to identify these children and make sure that the right support in place.
Mover of the motion Cllr Andrew Brown (Liberal Democrat, Hengrove and Whitchurch Park) said “With this motion, we hope to mark Young Carers Action Day 2025 and to highlight the ongoing needs of young carers.
“Young carers face a number of additional challenges in comparison to their peers, and these can lead to feelings of isolation, struggling with mental health, and barriers to succeeding at school. The Young Carers Covenant commits the council to a future where all young carers can access support for themselves and their family, have good physical and mental health, and are able to thrive in education.
“While the council is already doing fantastic work to support schools and young carers, the statistics show that more must be done to identify young carers at the earliest opportunity. Marking Young Carers Action Day 2025 is the perfect way to take stock of our what we are doing to support Bristol’s young carers, and to remind ourselves of the role young carers play in our city.”
The motion will be debated as the ‘silver motion’ at the 11th March meeting of Full Council.
Notes to editors:
- NHS resource on young carers: Being a young carer: your rights - Social care and support guide - NHS
- Carers Trust’s Young Carers Action Day information: Young Carers Action Day
- Carers Trust’s Young Carers Action Day resources: Young Carers Action Day 2025: Resources
- Carers Trust’s Young Carers Covenant: The Young Carers Covenant - Carers Trust
- Papers for 11th March Full Council: ModernGov - bristol.gov.uk