Here for someone

Support for you · UK

Young carers

For someone under 18 who regularly helps a family member because of illness, disability, mental ill health or substance use.

Short answerA child or teenager who regularly helps care for someone can ask for support in their own right. The name and legal process differ across the UK, but the assessment should look at the effect caring has on their life and what help the family needs.
If a child is in immediate danger: call 999. If a young person needs to talk privately, Childline is free on 0800 1111.

What to do first

  1. Tell a trusted adult. This could be a teacher, school nurse, GP, social worker, youth worker or another family member.
  2. Ask for a young-carer assessment or plan. Use the nation-specific route below. The young person can be involved in explaining what they do and how it affects school, rest, friendships and their own health.
  3. Ask for whole-family help. Support may need to reduce the amount or kind of care the young person is providing, not just help them cope with it.
Sources: NHS and Carers Trust
NHS guidance for young carers says an assessment looks at whether it is appropriate for the young person to care and considers education, training, leisure and their views about the future. Carers Trust explains local young-carer support.

Ask for support where you live

England

A young carer or their parent can request a young-carer assessment from the local council. NHS guidance says the council must arrange one when requested, and another must be carried out if needs or circumstances have changed.

NHS: being a young carer and find the local council's children's social care team.

Wales

Welsh Government guidance says the local authority must offer a carer's needs assessment to a young carer. It should identify the support they need.

Welsh Government: youth-friendly charter for unpaid carers.

Scotland

A young carer has a right to a Young Carer Statement. It records their circumstances, the effect of caring, the outcomes that matter to them and the support they may need.

Scottish Government: young carers.

Northern Ireland

nidirect says a young carer is entitled to a young-carer's needs assessment. The local Health and Social Care Trust or Regional Young Carers Service can arrange it and decide what help the young person and family may need.

nidirect: young carers.

Find someone to talk to

Local young-carer services

Carers Trust lists local carer organisations and explains where young carers and young adult carers can get support. Search for a carer service by town or postcode.

Childline

Children and young people can contact Childline about anything that is worrying them by calling 0800 1111 or using its online services. Go to Childline.

Sources: Carers Trust and Childline
Carers Trust's directory covers its UK network, though not every area has a network partner. Childline's young-carer page lists local councils, young-carer services and trusted adults as routes to help.

Here for Someone is an independent information project. This page organises public legal and service guidance from the sources linked beside it. Young-carer law and service names differ across the UK.

Sources checked: 27 August 2026

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