Support Young Carers Action Day - 16 March 2021

Following a question put forward by Councillor Tim Douglas (Paddox) at Full Council on 23 February 2021, Rugby Borough Councill will mark Young Carers Action Day on 16 March 2021.

Each year, The Carers Trust has organised a Young Carers Action Awareness Day. In 2021 this will be renamed Young Carers Action Day and marked on 16 March 2021.

Recent research shows that one in five secondary school children may be a young carer.

Furthermore, a survey by Carers UK found that 81% of carers are spending more time on their caring responsibilities during the pandemic, mainly because the needs of the person they are caring for have increased or because the local care services they rely on have been reduced or closed.

Across the country, Liberal Democrats are calling for the Government to give carers a break by providing immediate emergency funding to local authorities so they can offer every unpaid carer the support services they need to take a weekly break.

Commenting, Cllr Tim Douglas (Paddox), said:

"Throughout the pandemic many young carers have supported family members, so it is now important that we do all we can to help raise public awareness of the challenges faced by young people and young adults because of their caring role. The Action Day is an important way to recognise the efforts of young carers and shine a light on the support they need because of their caring responsibilities."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Councillor Douglas to ask the Communities and Homes Portfolio Holder,

Councillor Mrs Crane:

"Recent research shows that one in five secondary school children may be a young carer. Caring for someone can be very isolating, worrying and stressful. Each year, The Carers Trust has organised a Young Carers' Action Awareness Day. This year it will be renamed Young Carers' Action Day and will take place on Tuesday 16 March 2021. Will Rugby Borough Council commit to promoting the day and help raise public awareness of the challenges faced by young people and young adults because of their caring responsibilities?"

Councillor Mrs Crane, Communities and Homes Portfolio Holder, to reply as

follows:

"I'd like to thank Cllr Douglas for his question, which gives us all the opportunity to place on record our appreciation and admiration for the work young carers do in our communities every day.

Nationally, one in five young people find themselves taking on the role of carer for loved ones, from looking after brothers and sisters and carrying out household chores to managing the family budget and giving medicine to a parent.

It is a demanding role which can present young carers with many challenges - missing school, social isolation, and both mental and physical health problems. And the pandemic has proved particularly challenging for these young people, who so often put the needs of others ahead of their own.

Young Carers Action Day highlights the amazing work these young people do and aims to raise awareness of the challenges young carers face. Young carers themselves have chosen the theme of this year's Action Day - Protect Young Carers' Futures.

The theme promotes the skills young people develop through being a carer - skills such as resilience, time-management and empathy. Skills which can flourish in higher education or the workplace, given the appropriate support and encouragement.

As a council, we fully support the aims of Young Carers Action Day and the work of charities such as Warwickshire Young Carers.

Last year, the Mayor of Rugby welcomed young carers from the borough to the Mayor's Parlour to mark Young Carers Awareness Day, and the education and outreach team at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum has forged a partnership with Warwickshire Young Carers, holding the first of a planned series of special visitor sessions for the charity's members before the pandemic and distributing activity packs and art materials to young carers during lockdown.

As a council, we're committed to supporting Young Carers Action Day on 16 March and plan to promote the event on our social media channels, signposting residents to the online support and resources available on the Carers Trust website."

https://www.rugby.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/1132/council

Carers Trust

carers.org/young-carers-action-day-2021/young-carers-action-day-2021