Young Adult Carers

If you are aged 16 – 25 and help to look after a member of your family, who is ill or disabled, or who uses drugs or alcohol then you are a Young Adult Carer.

Young adult carers sometimes find that they are continuing to care for a friend or relative as their own adult life is just beginning. This can be a challenging time if you are also juggling work, studies and other commitments. Some young adult carers tell us that their caring role has an effect on the life choices that they make.

Caring also gives you life skills and experiences that could be useful when applying for jobs, internships or further education. For example:

• First Aid skills
• Patience and empathy
• Time-keeping and planning
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks
• Ability to remain calm in a crisis
• Problem-solving skills

The Young Carers Service at Carers in Hertfordshire support young adult carers until their 19^th birthday. At 19, young adult carers will still be able to access support from Carers in Hertfordshire. You can find more information about this here

Useful Information

Young Carers in Focus: ‘Know your Rights’

Carers Trust: ‘Getting in to Work: a guide for Young Adult Carers in England’

UCAS:  Applications for young adult carers