Wolverhampton’s young carers will be in the spotlight at the city marks Young Carers Action Day on Wednesday 12th March, 2025.
Members of the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Carer Support Team have organised an information pop up at St Regis School, Tettenhall, to highlight the important role of young carers to teaching staff, and to encourage young carers to get help and support.
It is the latest in a series of events organised by the team in conjunction with Amethyst Academies and the Three Spires Trust, which has seen similar pop-ups at St Peter’s, Moreton and Aldersley schools.
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “In the 2021 census some 900 young people in Wolverhampton identified themselves to be young carers, but we know through the work we have completed with local schools there are many more young people with caring roles within the city.
“Each and every one of them is willingly giving their time to look after someone else, perhaps because they have physical or learning disability or because they are struggling with mental issues or substance misuse.
“In many cases, young carers often take on practical or emotional caring responsibilities that would normally only be expected of grown ups, and this can leave them feeling isolated and unsupported and like they are missing out on their childhood.
“Clearly it is an incredibly challenging role for young people to take on, and I’d encourage young carers and their families to speak to our Carer Support Team for help and advice.”
The theme of Young Carers Action Day 2025 is ‘Give Me a Break’ and already this year the Carer Support Team has provided young carers with free tickets to the Black Country Living Museum, the cinema and The Way Youth Zone. A group of young carers enjoyed the Grand Theatre pantomime courtesy of Tettenhall Rotary Club, while a monthly young carers group meets at Base 25 giving young carers the chance to meet, chat and play board games.