APPG on Young Carers and Young Adult Carers - Projects, responses and reports
As part of its role in helping to raise awareness and improve support for young carers and young adult carers, the APPG will undertake specific projects and produce reports. This page contains all of the information about these projects and reports.
APPG examines the impact of the Children and Families Act and Care Act - ten years on, for young carers and young adult carers.
On the back of concerns identified in its landmark inquiry in relation to identification and statutory assessments for young carers, the APPG conducted a deep dive into the impact, ten years on, of the Children and Families Act 2014 and Care Act 2014 in relation to young carers and young adult carers.
APPG responds to young carers' attendance/absence data
On Thursday 21st March, the Department for Education published the 2022/23 attendance/absence data. This was the first release to include data around attendance and absence for young carers. The attendance rate for young carers was five percentage points lower than for other pupils, and the persistent absence rate (missing 10% or more or school) for young carers was nearly double that for pupils without caring responsibilities.
Responding to the data, our chair, Paul Blomfield MP said:
"These figures are extremely alarming and must be a trigger for further action. The fact that young carers are almost twice as likely to be persistently absent as their peers highlights the urgent need to improve recognition and support for young carers within schools.
Whenever I speak to young carers, they consistently highlight the need to have better awareness amongst teachers and pupils, and the difference that more help in schools could make for them.
As an APPG we will continue to raise this important issue with the Government and within Parliament and we support the calls for all schools to have a young carers lead and young carers policy."
APPG responds to the launch of the Young Carers Covenant - March 2024
Young Carers Action Day 2024 saw the launch of the first-ever Young Carers Covenant - a commitment to take action to support a fair future for young carers and young adult carers. Our chair, Paul Blomfield MP, spoke at the launch webinar. Below is the APPG's response to the launch of the Covenant:
“Our landmark inquiry last year heard overwhelming evidence that young and young adult carers often see their life opportunities blighted by a lack of support with their caring roles. Carers Trust’s launch of the Young Carers Covenant is a vital step towards creating a fairer future for over one million children and young people with caring responsibilities. As an APPG we fully support the Young Carers Covenant and will be encouraging all political parties to support it.
By signing up to the Covenant, politicians, schools, businesses and others can show their commitment and help ensure that young people don’t have to sacrifice their health, wellbeing and future prospects just because they are carers.”
Paul Blomfield, Chair, APPG for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers
Carers Strategy consultation - March 2024
The APPG has submitted a response to the APPG for Carers consultation into any future National Carers Strategy. Our submission was based on the findings of our inquiry and the issues raised by young carers and young adult carers through APPG meetings and events.
Download our Carers Strategy consultation response
APPG Inquiry into life opportunities for young carers - November 2023
The APPG on Young Carers and Young Adult Carers held the first ever parliamentary inquiry focused on young carers and young adult carers. This landmark inquiry focused on how caring impacts on the short and long-term life opportunities for young carers and young adult carers. Visit the inquiry page for more information.
Carers Action Plan 2018-20 and Young Carers/Young Adult Carers – Spring 2023
The APPG reviewed the elements of the Carers Action Plan specific to young carers and young adult carers. This review will look at what the Carers Action Plan has achieved for young carers and young adult carers, and what is needed in any future Carers Strategy. This fed into a wider review of the Carers Action Plan being undertaken by the APPG on Carers.
Download our 'Carers Action Plan and young carers' summary report and recommendations
APPG response to the 2023 school census
School census data has been released showing, for the first time, figures for the number of young carers in England. There were 38,983 young carers recorded in the school census, well under half the 96,757 young carers aged 5-16 in England identified in the 2021 census. The true figure is believed to be much higher.
The first ever school census released during Carers Week 2023 showed the amount of young carers in England was 38,983. The census figure is well under half of the 96,757 young carers (aged 5-16) in England which were identified in the 2021 census.
Find MP Paul Blomfield's full response as the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers. Full response here.