Abstract

Key findings

• Almost 40% of LSAC 14-15 year olds spent some time caring for a person in their family or community who is elderly or has a health condition or disability.
• At least one in ten 14-15 year-olds were caring for a household member, with around two-thirds of this group providing assistance with core activities including personal care, mobility and communication. 
• The majority of 14-15 year olds who spent time providing care were helping someone who lived outside the family home. This help commonly involved assisting a classmate or helping out with chores when they visit their grandparents. 
• While many of those providing care to someone living elsewhere did so on a weekly or monthly basis, more than half of those caring for a resident family member were providing daily care, with 22% spending more than two hours per day on these care activities. 

What effects are caring responsibilities having on these young people?

• On average, young carers have lower performance levels in reading and numeracy than their non-caring peers.
• The young carers most affected were those giving intensive care - those who provided daily care, particularly those who spent at least two hours per day, were more than a year behind their classmates in reading and numeracy.
• Young carers are more likely to live in disadvantaged households.
• Their lower educational attainment could have long-term effects on their future employment opportunities and life chances.