Young carers drive home their call for more breaks on Young Carers Action Day

Young carers have taken their call for more support to governments on Young Carers Action Day – including meeting politicians on a bus tour through Westminster.

Young Carers Action Day on 12th March saw a range of activities by young carers across England, Scotland and Wales, supported by Carers Trust and its network of local carer organisations.

In London, Carers Trust took a group of young carers a break by taking them on an open top bus tour in London. The bus stopped at Westminster where politicians and decision-makers hopped aboard, meeting the carers to hear their concerns directly.

Those who joined included Alison Bennett MP, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Care and Carers, Chris Vince MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Young and Young Adult Carers, Layla Moran MP, Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, and Children's Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza.

Chris Vince, who is also MP for Harlow in Essex, said:

“It’s great to see some carers from Essex on the bus. Young carers have always been something that’s really important to me and I’m really keen to make sure that young carers and young carers are on the Government’s radar.

"I’ll continue to make sure we do what we can to support young carers who have an important role supporting their loved ones.”

Young carer Sharandeep said of the day:

“Meeting MPs and talking about our experiences as carers is so important. The fact they can listen to us means they can advocate for us better.”

The day before, young carers from Hartlepool Carers Centre handed in a letter to 10 Downing Street. It asked for the Prime Minister’s support for the Young Carers Covenant and cross-government action to improve opportunities for young and young adult carers.

In Scotland, there was a mass gathering of young carers at Holyrood where they met MSPs, shared their experiences and called for more support.

There was also a roundtable discussion with decision-makers about better access to breaks for young carers. A Young Carer Action Day Parliamentary Debate took place in the Scottish Parliament Chamber with over 100 young carers in attendance.

In Wales, Carers Trust’s Youth Council of young carers supported by local carer organisations across the country joined together at the Senedd.

They quizzed MSs about how they can work towards a country where young carers are supported to access the short breaks they need. They also had a chance to hear from former young carers about the breaks they've had in life in their careers and education.

For the fifth year in a row, creative arts charity Create and Carers Trust partnered for a special showcase of artwork made by young carers during four Young Carers Action Day 2025 projects. These have taken place across the four nations of the UK.

The online showcase was on the “Give Me a Break” theme and highlighted the importance of giving young carers time off from their caring responsibilities to look after their own wellbeing.

This year’s showcase featured puppetry, photography, prints and collages specifically created for the day by young people in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Create’s Founding CEO Nicky Goulder MBE said:

“We are delighted to be giving young carers a voice and showcasing their creativity on Young Carers Action Day 2025."

"The needs of these young people who selflessly look after their loved ones should be much higher on the agenda in our society, and it is a privilege to help raise awareness of this through our longstanding partnership with Carers Trust."

“The showcase is also a fantastic opportunity to increase awareness of the power of the creative arts to empower lives."

"Through our creative workshops, young carers have been able to develop their creative and social skills, build their confidence, and nurture their wellbeing. We are proud of what they have achieved.”