APPG on Young Carers and Young Adult Carers- Inquiry into life opportunities
The APPG for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers is holding the first ever parliamentary inquiry focused specifically on young carers and young adult carers.
The inquiry will explore the impact of caring on life opportunities for young carers, and will set forward recommendations about what the Government and other partners should do to help the life chances of young carers and young adult carers.
The inquiry is being led by Duncan Baker MP, supported by a group of 10 youth advisors (including 2 inquiry co-chairs) from across England. Secretariat for the inquiry is being provided by Carers Trust.
Submitting evidence to the inquiry
The APPG is really keen to hear from anyone who has experience or insights relating to young carers – whether that be as a young carer, a parent, or an organisation who supports young carers or who works to improve support for them.
The inquiry is also keen to hear from academics who have undertaken relevant research relating to young carers and young adult carers.
You are now invited to submit written evidence to the inquiry by completing this online form.
Alternatively, you can download this form and return it to appg@carers.org. The deadline for responses is Friday 11th August. You can answer as many or as few of the questions as are relevant for you.
If you have any questions, please contact Carers Trust, the APPG Secretariat on appg@carers.org.
Focus of the inquiry
The inquiry will explore:
1. Short-term impacts: How are young carers and young adult carers’ immediate life opportunities impacted? This includes areas such as:
- Access to education
- Support for young carers and their families (including Young Carers Needs Assessments)
- Support for mental health of young carers and young adult carers
- Being able to have time away from caring
2. Long-term impacts: How does caring impact opportunities for young carers and young adult carers as they enter adulthood? This will cover:
- Access to further and higher education, training and employment
- Support for young adult carers in the workplace
- Support for young adult carers (including Transitions Assessments and specific support for young adult carers)
- Other key areas such as housing and finance
Inquiry timeline
Wednesday 7th June – Inquiry launched at a virtual launch event and call for evidence opened
Friday 11th August – Online call for evidence closes
Thursday 31st August (23:59) – Deadline for evidence from young carers closes
August/September 2023 – Evidence hearings
November 2023 – Inquiry report to be published
Young carers
The inquiry really wants to hear the voices of young carers and so the youth advisors have worked with Carers Trust to create specific consultation questions and activities for young carers.
APPG inquiry questions for young people
APPG inquiry questions for young people - Printable resources
Young carers and young adult carers can share their thoughts through a range of means including:
- Through their local young carers service
- E-mailing appg@carers.org
- Recording a video or voice note and sharing it:
Via e-mail - appg@carers.org
Via WhatsApp – 07791 779 664 - Via a Jamboard virtual whiteboard
Parents/guardians can also share feedback and thoughts on behalf of young carers.
There will also be a specific online workshop for young carers in August.
Parents of young carers
The inquiry is also keen to hear the voices and experiences of parents of young carers. Parents can either respond to the main call for evidence, or they can answer questions from the specific Questions for Parents document which has been produced. Parents can answer as many or as few of the questions as they see relevant.