MYTIME Young Carers is an award-winning charity that was founded in 2013 with one core belief: that no child’s destiny should be defined by their beginning.
With headquarters in Dorset, we work at a national scale to provide holistic support that addresses the unique challenges young carers between the ages of 5-25 face, empowering them to thrive and be celebrated for all they do.
Whether it is through our programmes, our partnerships, our campaigning, or the research and publication of our reports, our aim always has been to change the unfair odds that are stacked against young carers. Every young carer deserves the same opportunities, friendships, enjoyment of life, and learning experiences as their non-caring peers.
So, who is a young carer? Young carers are the extraordinary young people who have an unpaid caring responsibility, usually for a parent or sibling. These are young people who carry immense responsibility while growing up, far too often without any recognition.
Each young carer is different, and many take pride and pleasure in their caring role. However, childhood caring responsibilities often take a significant toll on a young person’s mental and physical health, academic performance and adult outcomes.
These young people need support, and that's what we're here for.
%
of young adult carers feel that their caring role has had a significant impact on their career progress
%
of young carers feel that their caring role has had a significant impact on their mental health
%
of young carers feel that their caring role has had a significant impact on their physical health
%
of young carers feel their caring role has a significant impact on their engagement with leisure activities
%
of Primary aged young carers have an identified SEND – meaning there is a compounded need for specialised support for young carers within education
The Children’s Act published in 2014 stipulates that local authorities have a duty to identify and assess young carers and to include them in the framework of a child in need.
There is, however, no further guidance offered around how local authorities should be supporting young carers.
There are an estimated 1,000,000 young carers in the UK. What’s more, the vast majority of young carers are unregistered with their local councils and unknown to their communities, and are forced to operate without even the limited support that is available to them.
At MYTIME, our work with young carers is constantly demonstrating the real difference that the right support can make to a child’s wellbeing, education, and future opportunities.
We know that every young carer’s situation is unique, which is why our programmes are flexible, inclusive, and designed with young carers’ lived experiences at heart.
Here’s how we make a difference:
We campaign for change at a national level to see young carers recognised in both UK policy and local practice.
young carers identified across Dorset and Isle of Wight
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Making Memories activity places filled by young carers
School partners supported by our Level Up Programme
pupils reached through 49 assemblies
graduates from MYTIME’s Employability Programme and EP related events
sessions provided by Zoom Youth Group
All of this is achieved through the support of volunteers, partners, donors, and community fundraisers, to whom we are so grateful. Thanks to each person who champions MYTIME, we get to keep championing young carers.
Are you willing to help change a life?
To learn more about our work or to explore ways you can support our bespoke programmes for young carers, please contact
enquiries@mytimeyoungcarers.org
