Young carers

If you are under 25, and helping care for someone with cancer – you are not alone. Many younger people in the UK help look after a family member who is ill. 

The information on this page will help you to find out more about managing as a young carer. You'll discover ways to cope with emotions and practical issues this raises. This includes details of how Maggie’s can support you.

Young carers explained

If you are under 18, and help look after someone who is ill at home, then you’re classed as a ‘young carer’.  

If you’re over 18, but still young, then you’re known as a young adult carer. 

You may not realise that you are a young carer – perhaps you’ve been helping with a number of things around the house for some time. Someone who isn’t feeling very well may need help with cleaning, cooking, getting dressed, or taking their medicines, for example. 

Being helpful and caring can feel an uplifting experience, and you may do these things very willingly. However, it can sometimes feel tiring and be a worry. It may affect how you feel, and how you cope with school, college and work.  

A big part of caring, which you may not realise, is the time you give emotionally supporting the person who is ill. 

You’re there for the good times and the less good – being strong when you may not feel it. 

It can sometimes be hard to have a meet up with friends or have social life, and you may be feeling you have to be a ‘grown up’ all the time.

Young carers and cancer

If someone in your family has cancer, you may suddenly find you’re doing more and more to help out at home. 

You may be glad to do this, or find you are feeling cross and upset that life at home feels very different. You may feel guilty, or worried about things that normally you feel fine about.

Cancer impact

Cancer brings a lot of changes. For many people, the changes are only temporary.

Treatment can leave a person feeling tired and not their usual selves. They may be quiet, or short tempered, or tearful – or be trying to put on a brave face for you and the rest of the family. 

You may have lots of questions – about what cancer is, and how it is affecting the person you care about. Hopefully your family will be including you in the talks about the cancer, so you feel part of what is going on.  

You may be worried that you’re at risk of getting cancer yourself. Sometimes you may even feel you’ve got similar symptoms. If you are concerned, talk to your family, GP or school/college about your worries – they can answer your questions, or help you find out more information.

Drop into your nearest Maggie’s centre for information, and support, and ask about our support for young people.

Help and support for young carers

The important thing is to know you’re not alone. There is help and support available for young people who have a caring role.

Professional support 

You may find you’re dealing with lots of different health and social care professionals, whilst your family member is ill. 

You may have questions, but feel shy about asking them. It can be handy to write your questions down in advance.

The healthcare professionals may not realise your caring role, so do mention it. They should answer your questions sensitively, and check that you are being supported too.

Practical support – carer’s assessment

If you’re caring for someone with cancer, maybe alongside your brothers and sisters, or parent, there may be times when you need help.  There’s a great deal going on, routines change and there are practical issues to sort out.  

By law, you’re entitled to a carer’s assessment. This can sound a bit scary, but it is carried out to help you and the family. It’s carried out by a social worker, who will be aiming to keep you all well supported at home. 

The Carers Trust have a guide which you can download - ‘Know your rights: support for young carers and young adult carers in England’. The guide has been written for young people between 8 and 25 years old.

Young carers and finances

You may find you’re having to help manage financial matters at home. 

Sometimes young carers may feel they have to temporarily give up college or university to help bring money in. If you’re worried about money, and the impact on the family, don’t bottle those worries up. 

Talking about the money worries can be helpful. You can be guided on what benefits and allowances are available to help. You may enlist the help and support of other family members and trusted friends, so you’re not carrying these concerns alone. 

We have benefits advisors in our Maggie's centres who can take time to listen and work through your concerns with you.

Young carers and emotional support

Looking after someone you care about who has cancer can cause feelings and emotions which feel difficult to manage:

• You may find you’re worried about the person you care for, when you’re away from the house, or they are in hospital.
• You may feel you are becoming quiet or withdrawn, or angry, or tearful. Sometimes, you may find it hard to sleep, feel anxious or low in mood.
• It can be difficult telling people how you feel - you may want to protect your family from further upset.
• Talking about your feelings can relieve the pressure, and help you realise what you’re feeling is natural.  Talking to each other, within the family, can be a great relief.
• If you feel you can’t talk at home, perhaps find a close friend, or trusted colleague to chat to.
• It can help to talk to someone who has professional experience about cancer, carers and feelings.  You could visit your GP, speak to a school/college counsellor for example.  

At Maggie’s we provide emotional support in many ways. If you’re over 16, you can drop into one of our centres and talk through your worries and questions. 

If you’re under 16, you are still drop in and talk to us, but you’ll need to come with your parent or guardian.

We have support for families, which you can ask about. We can also let you know where else you can get the emotional support you need.

Other organisations who can help

You may feel alone and isolated with everything that is going on. There are several organisations who also provide information, advice and support. The Carers Trust has put together a list of organisations you may find useful. 

There are organisations that arrange family days, or days out for young carers. You'll find useful links below for additional information and support.

Last review: Mar 2022 | Next review: Sep 2023