Resources

Carers Trust offers a wide range of resources and information for anyone who works with unpaid carers. To find a resource, please use the search options in the right hand column or search through the list below. If you have any queries about our resources, please contact web@carers.org.

If you would like to reproduce all or part of any of the resources on this website please read our copyright guidelines

Carers Trust Knowledge Hub

Carers Trust Network Partner local carer organisations can access our Knowledge Hub where you can find resources on best practice, innovation, and shared intelligence from other Network Partners.

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Research

Time to be Heard: A Call for Support for Young Adult Carers

Young adult carers are disadvantaged in their education, employment and wellbeing. These reports present evidence on the impact of caring unpaid for a family member or friend on the lives of young adult carers, using research carried out by the University of Nottingham. It represents the first large-scale survey of young adult carers aged 14-25. Reports cover England, Scotland and Wales.

Published: 2015

Research

My Future, My Feelings, My Family

The results of a Carers Trust survey into the impact of Coronavirus on young carers aged 12 to 17 and young adult carers aged 18 to 25 was published in July 2020. They point to a steep decline in the mental health and wellbeing of the hundreds of thousands of young people across the UK who provide unpaid care at home for family members or friends.

Published: 2020

Research

About Time Grant Evaluations

These independent evaluations review the successful delivery of the two About Time Grant programmes, Time for Change and Take Action and Support, which addressed the issues that can lead to young adult carers becoming disengaged from society.

Published: 2018

Good Practice

Identification Practice of Young Carers in England – Review, Tips and Tools

This resource is primarily aimed to be a guide for local government. The Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on local authorities to take ‘reasonable steps’ to identify young carers in their area who have support needs. This resource sets out these duties and shows how local government can work with education, health and social care partners to take the steps necessary to increase identification of young carers.

Published: 2019

Good Practice

Training resources to help with improving the identification and support of young carers

These resources are designed to support the training of a wide range of professionals and volunteers to identify and support young carers.

Published: 2020

Good Practice

Legislation into Practice: Making the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Care Act 2014 a Reality for Young Carers

A resource for local authorities working with schools to identify and support young carers. It sets out how using the Young Carers in Schools programme supports local authorities to ensure they fulfil their statutory duties as set out in the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Care Act 2014.

Published: 2018

Research

Care Act for Carers One Year On

Carers Trust's report Care Act for carers: One Year On showed that there are some carers who are getting good support under the Care Act, as well as some examples of good practice.

Published: 2016

Good Practice

Supporting Further Education Students with Caring Responsibilities

This resource enables further education colleges and services supporting young adult carers to gain insight into the challenges this group of students face and find practical tips, guidance and case studies to help staff establish and embed support for student carers.

Published: 2015

Research

Enabling Young Carers to Pursue their Goals in Life and Reach their Full Potential: Converting Research Findings into Policy Actions

Carers Trust is involved in a research project, 'Psychosocial support for promoting mental health and well-being among adolescent young carers in Europe'. It is also known as ‘ME-WE’. It's aim is to support the mental health, wellbeing and resilience of young carers. The project runs from January 2018–June 2021. This policy brief provides an overview of year one of the project.

Published: 2019

Research

Invisible and in Distress: Prioritising the Mental Health of England's Young Carers

There are an estimated 700,000 young carers in the UK; people who are under 18 who help look after someone in their family, or a friend, who are ill, disabled or misuse drugs or alcohol. The report highlights recommendations based on discussions with young carers, sector leaders and young carers services in the Carers Trust network.

Published: 2016