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Young carers

For adults supporting a child or teenager who helps care for someone else because of mental health difficulties, illness, disability or alcohol or drug use. Caring can include practical jobs and emotional support.

They need support tooA child who helps care for someone needs time for school, friends and rest. Help can include more support for the person they look after and reducing what the child has to do.[1]

If you are worried about a child’s own mental health, use the children and teenagers area. Young carers are children supporting someone else.

Find someone they can talk to

Someone for the child to talk to

Childline supports children and young people under 19 in the UK. They can call 0800 1111 or use Childline’s online support. Free to call. 24 hours, every day. They can talk about what is happening at home, how they feel, or where to find help.[2]

Local young-carer services

A local young-carer service may offer someone to talk to, activities and help for your family. Search Carers Trust by town or postcode. Its directory does not cover every area; the routes below can help if you cannot find a local service.

What to do first

  1. Help them speak to a trusted adult. A teacher, school nurse, GP or youth worker can help find support. Give the child room to explain what caring is like for them.
  2. Ask for a young-carer assessment or plan. The routes below explain who to ask where the child lives. Help them explain their responsibilities and the effect on school, rest, friendships and health.
  3. Ask for whole-family help. Ask what can change at home so the child has less to manage. Help should consider the whole family, including the person they look after.

Ask for support where you live

Help the child contact the relevant service and explain what they need.

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 your council to ask about a young-carer assessment.

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.

Sources and how this guide was written

  1. What to do first

    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.

    Back to the advice

  2. Find someone to talk to

    Carers Trust's directory covers its UK network, though not every area has a network partner. Childline's young-carer page and service information explain who can use the service and list local councils, young-carer services and trusted adults as routes to help.

    Back to the advice

Last full source check: 27 August 2026

Later checks: Council-finder link checked: 27 September 2026. Opening advice and early support options checked: 7 October 2026; adult-supporter wording and reciprocal child-area links updated: 12 October 2026; nation-specific legal sections not rechecked in this pass.

Independent information, not a medical or crisis service. This guidance has not been clinically reviewed. How we use sources.

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