Young carers share stories of their best breaks for Young Carers Action Day 2025
Young Carers Action Day 2025 gave young carers the chance to share their voices around the theme ‘Give Me A Break.’
Through videos, photos, creative writing, and drawings, young carers shared their stories — from the best breaks they’ve ever had, to designing their dream island for the perfect break, to why breaks are so important.
Some even shared what they would do if they were Prime Minister or First Minister to ensure young carers got the breaks they need.
Explore their powerful stories and creative ideas, and join us in raising awareness for the breaks young carers deserve!
Young carer on the importance of breaks
Bella
"This is a photograph of me caring for my sister (Ruby, 6.5 years old), who has GDD and complex needs. Her dyspraxia makes day-to-day living a real challenge, and I’ve had to grow up quickly, putting my needs below hers to ensure I can care for her in the best way possible."
"I help with everything, whether at school or at home, with simple tasks. I hope children like me get a break and time for themselves when they can, so they can feel happy."
"I love helping my sister with baking and doing jigsaw puzzles—I'm a helping hand that allows her to do things she wouldn’t otherwise be able to do."
"If I were Prime Minister for the day, I’d let all the kids come and play with our cat and make sure young carers could do anything they wanted for a day!"
Young carer on their University experience
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"Moving out for Uni was honestly one of the best decisions I ever made for myself, especially as a young carer. It felt like a breath of fresh air after years of juggling responsibilities at home."
"Leaving my familiar surroundings allowed me to finally focus on my own needs and well-being. I could explore new interests, meet new people, and discover who I really am outside of my caring role."
"Being at Uni gave me the space to breathe and recharge. I found that I had time to pursue hobbies I’d neglected for ages, like painting and joining clubs."
"Plus, living in a student community surrounded by others in the same situation made me feel less alone. We supported each other, shared experiences, and created a sense of belonging."
"This break not only helped me grow personally, but also made me a better carer when I returned home. I learned the importance of self-care and realised that taking time for myself ultimately benefits everyone I care for."
Ben
"My best break was in 2024. I went to Hopscotch near Fort William to get a break from my caring role. I had so much fun and did so many things. We left on Monday 30th September, travelling by minibus and then on a little ferry."
"I can describe Hopscotch in four words: the best place ever. It was amazing—we went horse riding, went for a swim, climbed a mountain, and did so much more."
"It gave me a break from my caring role and allowed me to make new friends. We also had the chance to do things like making our own pizzas, rock climbing, going for walks, and more. There was lots to do in the house itself too, with board games, foosball, and a hockey table. Tonya looked after us, and the people from Hopscotch gave us all a penguin teddy."
"I would love to go again."
Pharaoh
Young carer on why the Government should support breaks
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"Having breaks as a young carer is important for our health and well-being. They give us time to reflect on who we are outside our caring role, rest, relax, and enjoy ourselves. I enjoy my respite (breaks) because—although I love the people I look after—I need some time to myself."
"Carers often miss out on activities and breaks because of their roles, like needing to be at home helping when you could be out watching a movie with friends, or falling behind on homework because there’s not enough time due to being a carer."
"Being a carer can be isolating and stressful because looking after a loved one who is disabled or unwell can be emotionally and physically hard. It can be difficult making sense of the situation, so having these breaks can help give the carer time to reflect and process what’s happening."
"Often, I feel misunderstood, as if the label “young” in young carer means I don’t have the same experiences as an adult carer or don’t experience the same amount of stress. Having a break can help reduce stress levels and make us carers feel ready to return to our role."
"It gives us opportunities we wouldn’t have been able to experience, like rock climbing. Carers' groups can offer time to be with people in similar situations, while having a few hours away from the role."
"What the Prime Minister should do to ensure carers have these breaks is help people access more paid carer services that are cheaper or free, and make sure there is a minimum amount of time carers must take as a break per day (even if it’s just 30 minutes to 1 hour)."
"Having breaks isn’t just fun, they’re necessary, and I’m grateful for the services I have that help me get them."
A young carer shares her best break with the person she cares for
"I stepped down and my feet touched the ground, the ground of somewhere they hadn’t yet felt. Air as fresh as daisies, sun that warmed me – I had never felt such relief."
"Six hours passed on the coach, with views that left me speechless. Mountains suffocating in shiny snow, streams that ran through all the valleys."
"When I arrived, I felt this sensation fill my whole body – a different wave of happiness and relaxation, like getting into a bed with fresh linen and shaved legs."
"The next morning, I woke up feeling revived. I had the best night’s sleep of my life. I decided to go for a hike. I slowly wandered through the long trail, taking every breath of air deep into my lungs."
"An hour later, I finally reached the top and the views were perfect, gorgeous even – it was everything I expected and more."
"Fluffy clouds that felt so close you could almost touch them, and the world went silent. For the first time, I could hear myself think. I never wanted to leave; I was at my peak happiness."
Fi
"The best break I had, ironically, involved the parent I care for. It was on one of the (less common) warm British summer days, and their chronic pain had eased. We had ice-cold glasses of Diet Coke and sat on loungers under the sunlight, eyes closed, soaking up the light and warmth in the air."
"Bumblebees hovered in the daisies near our bare feet, and the neighbour's cat climbed our fence, attempting to catch any unfortunate pigeons. I felt like I could breathe again. It felt so freeing."
"Sometimes, being a young carer means I feel I have to neglect my own needs and miss out on opportunities that others my age grasp with both hands. But I realised that day that some things can't be taken away from us — nature, mindfulness, deep, calming breaths, and the ability to channel our mental energy towards the things that bring us happiness."
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Katie
Young carer Katie's perfect island break for young carers.
A young carer poem
A football break
"Football is my escape, my sanctuary. Every morning, I wake up at 5 a.m. to meet my friends for practice. The early mornings are a ritual, a time when nothing else matters but the game."
"It feels like family, where we bond over everything from the weather to the coach’s snarky tone, the wins, and the losses."
"The goal, the ball, and the team are the only things I focus on from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., Monday through Friday. It’s simple, yet so fulfilling. There’s a shared understanding among us all that football is our time to leave everything else behind and just play."
"It doesn’t matter if I have a bunch of homework due that day or if I’ve just had an argument with my friends. Those hours are the highlight of my day. Football isn’t just a sport; it’s my escape."
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Nina
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"Being a young carer can feel like you never get a moment to just breathe. But one of the best breaks I’ve ever had was trying indoor skydiving, and honestly, it was amazing."
"The second I stepped into the wind tunnel, everything else disappeared. No stress, no responsibilities—just pure adrenaline. I had no weight and was floating mid-air, and it felt like I was free. It was the kind of rush that made me forget about everything for a while, and I can’t even explain how much I needed that."
"It wasn’t just about the experience itself; it was about doing something for me, combined with the experience. I spend so much time looking after others, but in that moment, I was doing something exciting, something fun, something that made me feel alive."
"I realised that we all deserve a break, whether it’s a big adventure or just a quiet moment to ourselves!"
Young carers' break camping
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"The best break I’ve had as a young carer was when I went camping with my friend after taking care of my little brother for a long while."
"Caring for him had been exhausting, and I rarely had time for myself." "So, when my friend invited me on a camping trip, I jumped at the chance. It was the perfect escape."
"We set up our tent in the wild, away from everything. In the evening, we sat around a bonfire, chatting and laughing under the starry sky. The warmth of the fire and the peaceful sounds of nature made it feel like the world had paused for a while."
"The next morning, we woke up early and went for a swim in the lake; the cool water refreshed me completely. Being surrounded by nature, hearing birds chirp and leaves rustle, was so calming. It reminded me of how important it is to take care of myself, too."
"That trip gave me the space to recharge and reconnect with myself and my friend, and I came back feeling renewed and ready to continue caring for my brother."
Connor
“This is my Carers Island. It includes a safe space to cook, a medium-sized beach where you can sit and relax, and a gaming shed for any carers interested in gaming."
"There's a fire pit where everyone can gather to make s'mores, a tree hammock for anyone who wants to nap, and one of my favourite parts — an outdoor bed where you can fall asleep under the stars."
"But my absolute favourite part is the blue lagoon surrounding the island — perfect for swimming.”