Talking about Young Carers Action Day in school

Get the Young Carers Action Day school resource here. What makes someone a young carer? Young carers are children and young people who are regularly responsible for looking after someone at home – like a parent, grandparent or sibling – who is ill or has a disability or mental health problem. Young carers play an important, compassionate role in helping their person at home to manage. People who are young carers often need to help their person at home with day-to-day tasks, such as: Household jobs like cooking, washing clothes and cleaning Personal care and hygiene, like getting washed and dressed Physical tasks, like moving around and getting into/out of bed Helping to give them medicine and managing prescriptions Translating and helping them to communicate with others Taking care of others in the family, such as siblings or pets Offering emotional support, like compassion and comfort According to the 2021 ONS census, there are approximately 120,000 young carers aged 5-17 in England, with around 8,200 young carers in Wales. Some people can be young carers without realising if they have offered care for a long time through their childhood. Other people can become young carers quickly, for example if their family member gets poorly. Whilst it can be rewarding, people who are young carers can sometimes have their own social lives and education affected. There are lots of groups and organisations that help children and young people to deal with what’s happening in their family, such as the NHS , Carers Trust , children's charities, and local authorities. What is Young Carers Action Day? Young Carers Day is a special time to recognise and support young carers. It’s an annual event that takes place around mid-March; this year, Young Carers Action Day is on Wednesday 11 th March 2026 . The day is hosted by Carers Trust, with the aim of supporting and raising awareness of young carers. It’s a time for people to use their voice in calling for support and compassion for children and young adults who are young carers, to help them through their role and look to a positive future. How to mark Young Carers Action Day in school Young Carers Action Day is an opportunity for all schools to raise awareness of young carers and promote empathy and understanding among pupils. It's a time to share thoughts respectfully, and listen to and reflect on the experiences of others. Many schools in the UK will have pupils who take on a carer role for someone in their family. In school, remember to approach conversations about young carers with sensitivity, encouraging compassion from pupils, as some pupils may have caring experience or responsibilities. Create a safe space, allowing for respectful discussion and contributions. From holding open discussion and reflection in the classroom, to creating informative displays and posters or fundraising for carer charities together, there’s lots you can do in school to mark Young Carers Action Day. Why not try… Young Carers Action Day – free activity resource for schools! A child-friendly activity sheet, including: Information on young carers What Young Carers Action Day aims to achieve Discussion prompts Kindness Promise activity Suitable for primary and secondary pupils - available for all schools. Get the Young Carers Action Day school resource here. Share your Kindness Promises with us via email - help@picture-news.co.uk - or tag us on the Picture News social media channels. Young Carers Useful Links: Carers Trust – Young Carers Action Day NHS – Being a Young Carer: Your Rights Barnardos – Young Carers Childline – Young Carers