More than 166,000 children in England are caring for their parents, siblings and family members according to Census data released in May.
Today the Government announced an amendment to The Children and Families Bill will ensure that when a child is identified as a young carer, the needs of everyone in the family will be considered.
This will trigger both children’s and adults support services into action – assessing why a child is caring, what needs to change and what would help the family to prevent children from taking on this responsibility in the first place.
The Government's decision is a victory for National Young Carers Coalition (NYCC) of leading charities, who welcomed the "landmark change in the law".
Dr Moira Fraser, Chair of the NYCC and Director of Policy and Research at
Carers Trust, said:
“We are delighted that the Secretary of State has put forward this proposed amendment and indicated that the Care Bill will also protect young carers.
"Not only will these changes help professionals to understand what they need to do, they have potential to transform the lives of some our most vulnerable children and young people by helping them and their family when they most need it.”
The NYCC said young carers have been slipping through the net between children’s and adult’s support services, hidden from view of the very authorities there to help them.
It said that despite the census data, many young carers remain hidden from the view of authorities.
The Children’s Society’s analysis, Hidden from View, reveals that young carers are lagging behind in school and missing out on their childhoods because of the demands placed on them.
In a written statement to Parliament Education Secretary Michael Gove said the Hidden from View report indicates that young carers are no more likely to be in contact with support agencies than their peers.
"Through this amendment to the Children and Families Bill we believe we have arrived at a solution that will deliver four things," Mr Gove said.
"It will consolidate and simplify the legislation relating to young carers’ assessments, making rights and duties clearer to both young people and practitioners.
"The right to an assessment of needs for support will be extended to all young carers under the age of 18 regardless of who they care for, what type of care they provide or how often they provide it.
"Make it clear to local authorities that they must carry out an assessment of a young carer’s needs for support on request or on the appearance of need, and provide the appropriate links between children’s and adults’ legislation to enable local authorities to align the assessment of a young carer with an assessment of an adult they care for."
The Children’s Society’s Chief Executive, Matthew Reed, said: “This is an historic moment for children who have the responsibility of looking after their parents, siblings and family members.
"We applaud the Government for taking a huge leap to support often incredibly vulnerable young carers who are slipping through the net, undetected by the support services they desperately need.
“This milestone signals the start of a new era of support for young carers. We know that caring can cost children dearly. As the Secretary of State has made clear today, our Hidden from View analysis has been a driving force behind this.
"It reveals that young carers are missing out on their childhoods and school, gaining fewer qualifications and job opportunities and therefore are less likely to earn a decent living in the future. All children must be allowed to thrive and enjoy their childhood.”