In the UK there are around 700,000 Young Carers (Under-18) and around 376,000 Young Adult Carers(16-25). This #WorldMentalHealthDay I want to make people aware that there are thousands of children who receive little to no support from local authorities despite having extra...

...responsibilites. The NHS categories a Young carer is someone who is "under 18 and help to look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem."
Not many people know but I am a young carer and have been one since the age of 4...

..for my disabled mother. Then at the end of year 10 I became a carer for my grandma, who sadly passed in March.

I am quite lucky as my caring responsibilities have not particularly affected my education but as I say I am lucky as there are young carers who...

..may not be able to have time to focus on their education.

There are children as young as 5 looking after their parents and teenagers looking after their parents and younger siblings whilst studying for GCSE's.

With no extra support or respite ...

...I did not receive proper contact until the start of university transition which was 7 years after being a registered Young carer (and 14 years of caring).

But I am lucky as I have strong support from family friends and my own friends are supportive...

.. As I say, I'm lucky. But there are thousands of children who have no support, no one checking on their mental health and no one caring for them.

Young Carers have likely been the ones who have been shopping during the pandemic for their family meaning no focus on school...

...and no focus on themselves.

Children and Young Adults may go years without even knowing they're carers, I didn't find out until the end of year 7 but since then there has been no extra support.

Young carers and Young adult carers deserve better.