Normality for young carers will take longer to reach as the affects of COVID-19 are still lingering.
Life for everyone has not been the simplest since the pandemic, especially for those who are unable to speak out. In East Sussex alone there are an estimated 3,000 young carers, with around 11,000 young carers estimated in the UK. According to the research done by the BBC in 2018, 1 in 5 secondary school children are young carers, a shocking number to see.
With less support being readily available during the pandemic, young carers and young adult carers suffered a lot mentally. With online teaching alongside their duties, the situation can be conflicting. During a live interview with East Sussex organisation Care For The Carers, Jennifer Twist talks more on the issues that young carers face for decisions on their education.
“A lot of people who are going through that transition when they’re slightly older and thinking about ‘well what do I do after school?’. One of the things we hear about is that for a lot of young carers and young adult carers, thinking about university and a career and so on is a real challenge.”
A study from the organisation Carers Trust shows that just under half of young carers and over half of young adult carers say their mental health has worsened since the pandemic. More than 60% of young carers and over 70% of young adult carers asked are worried about their future since the pandemic, making this the most needed time for young carers to get support.
