To mark Young Carers Action Day 2021 Carers Trust held a successful Bilateral Summit between the Scottish and Welsh Governments and young carers from both nations.
The event, chaired by University of Sussex Provost Professor Saul Becker, who is a world-leading researcher on young carers’ rights and Carers Trust Ambassador, saw eight young carers discuss their hopes for the future with Mairi Gougeon MSP, Minister for Public Health and Sport, Scottish Government and Julie Morgan MS, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, Welsh Government.
As well as celebrating the many skills young carers develop through their caring role, the Summit explored the positive ways in which young carers are supported in Wales and Scotland, such as through Wales’ Young Carers ID Card scheme and the Scotlands’ Young Carer Statement.
Young carers spoke passionately about the benefits of support they receive at school, college and through local carer services and shared their ambition for more to be done to make sure that all professionals are aware of young carers and able to support them properly. They highlighted the importance of all young carers, regardless of where they live, being able to access the support they need at the right point in their caring journey.
Professor Saul Becker said: “For over 30 years I have seen the impact caring can have on young carers’ educational attainment and wider life outcomes.
“Despite the fact that young carers often develop impressive and valuable skills through their caring role, all too often they can be hugely disadvantaged when trying to move on in education or gain employment.
“I was pleased to chair the Bilateral Summit, during which the Scottish and Welsh Governments demonstrated genuine commitment to listening to and learning from young carers and taking action to ensure that more young carers are supported to achieve their potential.”
Ffion Harding, a young carer from Powys, said: “I thought it was really important for the Ministers to hear directly from us as young carers especially with the challenges of the past year. It means that they can directly address the problems we are facing and hopefully help us to feel more supported in our caring roles.
“It was an incredible experience to have them listening to what we wanted to say and to feel heard.”
Aaron McDonald, a young adult carer and Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said: "The event was fantastic. It allowed our concerns but also our hopes as young carers to be directly heard by ministers from both governments.
“Young carers voices are too often overlooked and go unheard and this event is certainly a starting point for young carers to be heard, as our lives can be so different from other young people."