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

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

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

Toolkit

Supporting Students with Caring Responsibilities in Further Education in Wales

A Wales-specific, user-friendly resource, this toolkit was developed in partnership with Learning and Work Institute to increase awareness of student carers and their specific needs, promote existing good practice from colleges and carers services and offering expert recommendations.

Published: 2018

Toolkit

Supporting Young Carers in Schools: A Toolkit for Initial Teacher Education Providers

This toolkit provides essential tools, templates and guidance for Initial Teacher Education (ITE) providers who already include young carers as a key topic within their training programmes and ITE providers who are developing their training content regarding young carers.

Published: 2017

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

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

Good Practice

Supporting Higher Education Students with Caring Responsibilities

This resource enables universities 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

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

Young Adult Carers at College and University

In 2013, Carers Trust commissioned the University of Nottingham to undertake research to examine the experiences and aspirations of young adult carers with regards to school, further and higher education, and work.

Published: 2014

How-to-guide

My Life Now: Individual Assessment and Planning Tool for Young Carers

My Life Now is an individual assessment and planning tool for young carers. The tools include both an in depth and quick assessment wheel and a framework for setting goals.

Published: 2013