According to Carers UK across the UK 6.5 million people are carers, supporting a loved one who is older, disabled or seriously ill. That’s 1 in 8 adults who care, unpaid, for family and friends. Every day 6,000 people become carers, and many don’t know how or where to get help. It can be daunting and very lonely, especially for young carers.
Those aged 25 or less are classed as young carers and many find themselves trying to work while managing their caring responsibilities. It’s a burden of maturity that can affect their mental health as so often they don’t have the support they need.
That’s why any opportunity to raise awareness and particularly within the workplace, is important. The most effective workplace health and wellbeing strategies deliver comprehensive interventions that benefit all employees – including working carers.
In recognition of Young Carers Action Day, we are looking at the demands placed on them and asking what we, as employers, can do to offer support.
Life as a working carer
Working carers find that they also have caring demands placed on them during working hours, checking in with a relative over the ‘phone or having to leave work at short notice. These demands can have a negative impact on their physical and mental health with a large percentage feeling anxious and stressed and many reporting feeling depressed because of their caring role.
Yet caring is such an important part of life. It’s simply part of being human. Carers are holding families together, enabling loved ones to get the most out of life, making an enormous contribution to society and saving the economy billions of pounds.
The demands on young carers
They may be caring for a parent, sibling, or another family member, living with a disability, illness, mental health condition or drug and/or alcohol dependence. It’s a reversal of roles of course and hard for both the parent or sibling and for the carer. For carers it’s not about being brave, or a saint, or a hero: it’s often a never-ending commitment where the carer simply has no option but to undertake the responsibility. Don’t assume that they do it grudgingly or feel like a martyr, most find a sense of purpose in being able to provide for the needs of a loved one. Carers do not go about complaining as there is very often nowhere they can complain. And even if they do give voice to their concerns and feelings there are often so few resources, so little support available that it feels pointless.
Data on young carers
The detailed and very valuable research of The Children’s Society report in 2021 is most helpful in flagging up some areas of particular concern. They found:
- 59% said they were not able to take a break from caring
- 80% felt more isolated during lockdown
- Up to a third have an “overlooked” mental health issue
- Over 25% miss school because of care responsibilities.
- 39% had not told their school that they were acting in that role for a parent or sibling
Protecting Young Carers’ Future
16th March is Young Carers Action Day and Caring Together is a leading charity supporting carers of ages and offers help and support for family carers.
Those young adults who have caring responsibilities often develop skills that are extremely valuable to employers. These include time management, the ability to engage effectively with key stakeholders at all levels, empathy, resilience and project management capabilities. They may also often display a maturity beyond their years.
With young carers particularly in mind, and seeing everyone as an individual, we should examine how we might all be able to help. Inspired by Carers UK, here are our top three things to consider:
Recognise and value the skills that carers bring to the workplace. A fully inclusive workplace will allow your employees to bring those skills in their entirety to the benefit of both parties. Essentially, to enable them to thrive.
Facilitate practical support where feasible and raise awareness amongst your line management team. Ensure your existing employment programmes are inclusive for carers.
Normalise conversations around caring, and for employees to share their own caring journey. Industry role models can inspire young carers and showcase different pathways that led them to their career.
Becoming a Carer Friendly Employer
There are several ways to become more carer aware. There’s the Carer-Friendly Employer Tick Award – have a named member of staff to lead on the topic, have a carer-friendly policy and ensure all managers know and understand how they can provide support, ensure there is information easily accessible and use days like Carer Rights Day and Carers Week to raise awareness.
Finally, remember that whilst awareness-raising is a valuable starting point, the need goes on. We can all do more, and to help to protect young carers’ futures – every single one.
In conclusion
As a society we are living longer and many with illness or disability, and more and more of us are supporting and looking after them. Young carers are a significant part of this support, but this can come at a high cost in terms of the impact it can have on their mental health. Those employers that are able to be more carer aware, and reduce the burden they face, will find a mature, resilient and highly valuable part of their workforce.
References and further reading
https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/our-work/supporting-young-carers
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Get-Support
https://carers.org/young-carers-action-day-2022/young-carers-action-day-2022-1
https://www.kids.org.uk/young-carers
