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Young Carers Awareness day – nearly 1 in 5 UK children are carers

30 January 2019

Being young is usually a time to have fun playing with friends and be carefree – but for the thousands of young carers in the UK, finding time to play with friends can be difficult due to the responsibilities caring brings.

Figures gathered by the BBC and the University of Nottingham suggest that 22% of secondary school age children who responded to a questionnaire were found to be carers for parents or relatives.

To celebrate Young Carers Awareness Day 2019, young people at the Carers Trust spoke to BBC L.A.B Scotland about what it’s like being young and caring for a relative.

Things You Should Know About Young Carers

Young people from the Carers Trust talk about what being a young carer involves.

‘People don't understand what a young carer really is’

New research by the BBC suggests there are more young carers in the UK than previously thought. (From 2018)

Latest features from BBC Scotland