Young people, care and carers

The National Children’s Bureau, as part of the Children's Partnership, was commissioned by the Department for Education to carry out a brief survey of VCS organisations involved in supporting looked after children and care leavers.

To download the findings of the survey visit http://thechildrenspartnership-knowledge.org.uk/media/1035/childrens-partnership-vcs-lac-survey-report-final.pdf.

The Care Act 2014, which received royal assent on 15 May, included a number of measures designed to improve the lives of young carers, including:

• As part of a whole family assessment, local authorities will have a duty to consider the needs of children living in households where there is an adult who has a disability or impairment that requires help or care;
• Children can have their own carers' needs assessment carried out; and
• There is a new right for young carers aged 16 to 18 who are transitioning to adulthood to have their specific needs assessed in light of how their role might change.

For further information on the Care Act 2014 visit http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/care.html.

The Children’s Society has published an interactive map of the population of young carers, aged 15 or younger, broken down by council area.

The map shows the locations of the 166,363 children across England that provide unpaid care for parents, siblings and family members.

To view the map visit www.childrenssociety.org.uk/news-views/our-blog/you-can-help-young-carers-near-you.

NIACE has developed resources to help young carers access education and employment opportunities. For further information and to access the resources visit http://shop.niace.org.uk/media/catalog/product/r/u/ruble_ya_carers_2014_-_web.pdf and www.niace.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/current-work/young-adult-carers/Case-Studies-April-2014.doc.

The Catch 22 National Care Advisory Service has published a third edition of its ‘Know your rights, know your benefits’ leaflet aimed at young care leavers within the benefits system in England.

To download the leaflet visit www.catch-22.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Know-your-rights-know-your-benefits.pdf.