Three-quarters of young carers in Wales accessing new breaks scheme in 2024 had no break at all in the previous year

Ahead of Young Carers Action Day, young carers from across Wales call on Members of the Senedd to take action and give them regular breaks from caring.

Members of the Carers Trust Wales’ Youth Council who have accessed breaks through the Short Breaks Scheme, say that having access to breaks is essential so they can maintain their physical and mental wellbeing.

Interim findings from Bangor University’s independent evaluation of the scheme revealed three quarters (75%) of young carers accessing breaks through the initiative had not accessed a break from any other service during the previous 12 months.

Of the 24,000 unpaid carers who accessed a break through the Short Breaks Scheme in its first year, almost 4,000 were young carers, many of whom had never had a meaningful break from caring before.

The time young carers spend on their caring role means they often miss out on education, friendships, holidays and many other things their classmates take for granted.

Young Carers Action Day is an annual campaign organised by Carers Trust with its network of local carer organisations.

It aims to highlight the challenges faced by young carers (under-18s) and young adult carers aged 18-25. There are more than 22,000 young and young adult carers in Wales, according to the latest census data.

This year the theme of Young Carers Action Day is “Give Me A Break”. It was chosen by young carers themselves to show their need for respite but also to be given a chance in life by schools, employers and politicians.

Carers Trust is highlighting the importance of properly funded and easily accessible breaks for young people from their caring role.

Kate Cubbage, Director of Carers Trust Wales, said:

“Young carers, like every other child and young person, should have time to play, to be with their friends and to do the things that mean the most to them.

“We’re proud of how the Short Breaks Scheme has supported local carer organisations and third sector partners, to provide thousands of precious moments and breaks away for young carers who wouldn’t otherwise get a break from their caring role.

“We owe it to our young carers to ensure that they can access a meaningful break to help sustain them in their caring role, support them to achieve their aspirations and look after their mental health and wellbeing."

"Despite the massive strides forward that have been taken through the Short Breaks Scheme we know that there is much more left to do to ensure that taking a break is the norm, not the exception for the lucky few, and that young carers across Wales can rely on getting a break when they need it.”

Minister for Children and Social Care, Dawn Bowden said:

“Young carers play a crucial role in providing care for family members, and we want to ensure this does not adversely affect their education, seeing friends or taking up hobbies.

 “Our short breaks scheme is one way that young carers can take a break and enjoy time with their family or peers. I am also very happy to be supporting the annual Young Carers Festival in August for a further year.”

A UK-wide Carers Trust survey, released for Young Carers Action Day on 12 March, found almost a quarter (23%) say there’s no one else to provide the care they do and two-fifths (40%) said they worried too much about the person they care for to take time out from looking after them.

One young carer said:

“I feel bad for taking breaks and when I have time for myself I’m always thinking that I could be doing something else to help out. It’s isolating because I can’t meet up with friends."

"I can text but it’s just not the same. Everyone’s planning their holidays and trips but I know I can’t go on holiday.”

Almost three-quarters of young carers (72%) said they miss out during school holidays because they provide care, the survey showed.

Many also felt they were shut out of a lot of the things most other children get to do. Nearly half (49%) miss out on time with friends, and 46% on hobbies. Almost two-thirds (65%) said they lacked time to themselves and nearly one in five (19%) felt they were missing their education.

Kirsty McHugh, Carers Trust’s CEO, said:

“Across the UK, children as young as five are spending huge amounts of their free time caring for others. We know this can have a devastating effect on their education, wellbeing and future prospects. It is simply wrong that, as a country, we are asking so many children to take on so much.

“Those in power need to give young carers a break. If we want young people to thrive, as well as those for which they care, we need to give these young people the chance to take time out from their caring duties.

“We’re proud to deliver the Short Breaks Scheme in Wales thanks to multi-year multi-million pound funding from Welsh Government."

"The evaluation of this scheme has shown it makes a huge difference to improving access to breaks for young carers."

"However, we know that demand still far outstrips supply and to meet that need we must have early commitment to continued funding beyond March 2026.”

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Ni chafodd tri chwarter y gofalwyr ifanc yng Nghymru a ddefnyddiodd cynllun seibiannau newydd yn 2024 unrhyw saib o gwbl yn y flwyddyn flaenorol

Cyn Diwrnod Gweithredu Gofalwyr Ifanc, mae gofalwyr ifanc o bob rhan o Gymru yn galw ar Aelodau’r Senedd i weithredu a rhoi seibiannau rheolaidd iddynt o ofalu.

Mae aelodau o Gyngor Ieuenctid Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr Cymru sydd wedi cael mynediad at seibiannau drwy’r Cynllun Seibiannau Byr, yn dweud bod cael mynediad at seibiannau yn hanfodol er mwyn iddynt allu cynnal eu lles corfforol a meddyliol.

Datgelodd canfyddiadau interim o werthusiad annibynnol Prifysgol Bangor o’r Cynllun nad oedd tri chwarter (75%) o ofalwyr ifanc a oedd yn cael egwyl drwy’r fenter wedi cael seibiant o unrhyw wasanaeth arall yn ystod y 12 mis blaenorol.

O’r 24,000 o ofalwyr di-dâl a gafodd seibiant drwy’r Cynllun Seibiannau Byr yn ei flwyddyn gyntaf, roedd bron i 4,000 yn ofalwyr ifanc, ac nid oedd llawer ohonynt erioed wedi cael seibiant ystyrlon o ofalu o’r blaen.

Mae'r amser y mae gofalwyr ifanc yn ei dreulio ar eu rôl ofalu yn golygu eu bod yn aml yn colli allan ar addysg, cyfeillgarwch, gwyliau a llawer o bethau eraill y mae eu cyd-ddisgyblion yn eu cymryd yn ganiataol.

Mae Diwrnod Gweithredu Gofalwyr Ifanc yn ymgyrch flynyddol a drefnir gan yr Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr gyda'i rhwydwaith o sefydliadau gofalwyr lleol. Ei nod yw tynnu sylw at yr heriau a wynebir gan ofalwyr ifanc (dan 18 oed) ac oedolion ifanc sy’n ofalwyr 18-25 oed. Mae mwy na 22,000 o ofalwyr ifanc ac oedolion ifanc sy’n ofalwyr yng Nghymru, yn ôl data’r cyfrifiad diweddaraf.

Eleni thema Diwrnod Gweithredu Gofalwyr Ifanc yw “Rhowch Gyfle i Mi”. Fe'i dewiswyd gan ofalwyr ifanc eu hunain i ddangos eu hangen am seibiant ond hefyd i gael cyfle mewn bywyd gan ysgolion, cyflogwyr a gwleidyddion.

Mae'r Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr yn tynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd seibiannau hawdd eu cyrraedd wedi'u hariannu'n briodol i bobl ifanc o'u rôl ofalu.

Dywedodd Kate Cubage, Cyfarwyddwr Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr Cymru:

“Dylai gofalwyr ifanc, fel pob plentyn a pherson ifanc arall, gael amser i chwarae, i fod gyda’u ffrindiau ac i wneud y pethau sy’n golygu fwyaf iddyn nhw.

“Rydym yn falch o sut mae’r Cynllun Seibiannau Byr wedi cefnogi sefydliadau gofalwyr lleol a phartneriaid trydydd sector, i ddarparu miloedd o eiliadau gwerthfawr a seibiannau i ofalwyr ifanc na fyddent fel arall yn cael seibiant o’u rôl ofalu.

“Mae’n ddyletswydd arnom i’n gofalwyr ifanc sicrhau eu bod yn gallu cael seibiant ystyrlon i helpu i’w cynnal yn eu rôl ofalu, eu cefnogi i gyflawni eu dyheadau a gofalu am eu hiechyd meddwl a’u lles. Er gwaethaf y camau breision ymlaen sydd wedi’u cymryd drwy’r Cynllun Seibiannau Byr rydym yn gwybod bod llawer mwy i’w wneud i sicrhau mai cymryd seibiant yw’r norm, nid yr eithriad i’r ychydig lwcus, a bod gofalwyr ifanc ledled Cymru yn gallu dibynnu ar gael seibiant pan fydd ei angen arnynt.”

Dywedodd Dawn Bowden, y Gweinidog Plant a Gofal Cymdeithasol:

“Mae gofalwyr ifanc yn chwarae rhan hanfodol wrth ddarparu gofal i aelodau’r teulu, ac rydym am sicrhau nad yw hyn yn effeithio’n andwyol ar eu haddysg, gweld ffrindiau neu ymgymryd â hobïau.

 “Mae ein cynllun seibiannau byr yn un ffordd y gall gofalwyr ifanc gymryd saib a mwynhau amser gyda’u teulu neu eu cyfoedion. Rwyf hefyd yn hapus iawn i gefnogi’r Ŵyl Gofalwyr Ifanc flynyddol ym mis Awst am flwyddyn arall.”

Canfu arolwg gan Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr dros y DU, a ryddhawyd ar gyfer Diwrnod Gweithredu Gofalwyr Ifanc ar 12 Mawrth, fod bron i chwarter (23%) yn dweud nad oes unrhyw un arall i ddarparu’r gofal y maent yn ei wneud a dywedodd dau o bob pump (40%) eu bod yn poeni’n ormodol am y person y maent yn gofalu amdano i gymryd amser i ffwrdd o ofalu amdanynt.

Dywedodd un gofalwr ifanc:

“Rwy’n teimlo’n ddrwg am gymryd seibiannau a phan fydd gen i amser i mi fy hun dwi bob amser yn meddwl y gallwn fod yn gwneud rhywbeth arall i helpu. Mae'n ynysig oherwydd ni allaf gwrdd â ffrindiau. Gallaf anfon neges destun ond nid yw yr un peth. Mae pawb yn cynllunio eu gwyliau a’u teithiau ond dwi’n gwybod na allaf fynd ar wyliau.”

Dywedodd bron i dri chwarter y gofalwyr ifanc (72%) eu bod yn colli allan yn ystod gwyliau ysgol oherwydd eu bod yn darparu gofal, yn ôl yr arolwg.

Roedd llawer hefyd yn teimlo eu bod wedi'u cau allan o lawer o'r pethau y mae'r rhan fwyaf o blant eraill yn eu gwneud. Mae bron i hanner (49%) yn colli allan ar amser gyda ffrindiau, a 46% ar hobïau. Dywedodd bron i ddwy ran o dair (65%) nad oedd ganddynt amser iddynt eu hunain a theimlai bron i un o bob pump (19%) eu bod yn colli eu haddysg.

Dywedodd Kirsty McHugh, Prif Weithredwr yr Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr:

“Ar draws y DU, mae plant mor ifanc â phump yn treulio llawer iawn o’u hamser rhydd yn gofalu am eraill. Gwyddom y gall hyn gael effaith ddinistriol ar eu haddysg, eu lles a’u rhagolygon ar gyfer y dyfodol. Yn syml iawn, mae’n anghywir ein bod ni, fel gwlad, yn gofyn i gynifer o blant gymryd cymaint ymlaen.

“Mae angen i’r rhai sydd mewn grym roi seibiant i ofalwyr ifanc. Os ydym am i bobl ifanc ffynnu, yn ogystal â'r rhai y maent yn gofalu amdanynt, mae angen inni roi'r cyfle i'r bobl ifanc hyn gael seibiant o'u dyletswyddau gofalu.

“Rydym yn falch o gyflawni’r Cynllun Seibiannau Byr yng Nghymru diolch i gyllid gwerth miliynau o bunnoedd gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae gwerthusiad y cynllun hwn wedi dangos ei fod yn gwneud gwahaniaeth enfawr i wella mynediad at seibiannau i ofalwyr ifanc. Fodd bynnag, gwyddom fod y galw yn dal i fod ymhell y tu hwnt i’r cyflenwad ac i ddiwallu’r angen hwnnw mae’n rhaid i ni ymrwymo’n gynnar i barhau i ariannu y tu hwnt i fis Mawrth 2026.”