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Young Adult Carers: Education and Training
23 April 2026
Lead MP
Christopher Vince
Harlow
Lab Co-op
Responding Minister
Josh MacAlister
Tags
NHSEducationEmploymentMental HealthChildren & Families
Word Count: 7048
Other Contributors: 4
At a Glance
Christopher Vince raised concerns about young adult carers: education and training in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The lead MP calls for improved identification of carers, financial support to remove barriers, cross-Government strategies on young carers, better transition assessments by local authorities, and improved data collection on young adult carers.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The APPG report found that over 40,000 young adult carers are caring for their loved ones for more than 50 hours per week. Only a quarter of respondents said they had the same access to opportunities in education, with 73% feeling they were falling behind their peers and 79% citing caring as impacting mental health and career plans.
Redditch
The hon. Gentleman highlighted the importance of cha [3D [K challenging both the Government and educational establishments to ensure th [2D [K that young carers can thrive in college environments, praising Michelle Dow [3D [K Dowse at Heart of Worcestershire College for providing one-to-one support a [1D [K and transitional visits.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon highlighted the challenges faced by youn [4D [K young adult carers in Northern Ireland, noting that there are approximately [13D [K approximately 17,500 child and young adult carers representing roughly 8% o [1D [K of unpaid carers. He pointed out that over 2,500 carers under the age of 15 [2D [K 15 provide significant care, with more than 10% providing over 50 hours of [K care weekly. Shannon emphasized the educational difficulties these young ca [2D [K carers face and their higher likelihood to live in poverty due to caring re [2D [K responsibilities. Suggested that the hon. Member for Harlow should be [K at a meeting to discuss issues relevant to young adult carers, and proposed [8D [K proposed that he could provide feedback on how it went.
Saqib Bhatti
Con
Meriden and Solihull East
Paid tribute to young carers in the UK, noting there [5D [K there are an estimated 1 million young carers aged up to 18. Emphasized the [3D [K the impact of caring responsibilities on education and highlighted previous [8D [K previous government initiatives such as the pupil premium and Young Carers [K in Schools programme. Raised concerns about the ongoing challenges faced by [2D [K by young carers, including difficulty accessing training and educational op [2D [K opportunities due to their roles.
Victoria Collins
Liberal Democr [6D [K Democrat
Harpenden and Berkhamsted
Ms Collins highlighted the significant challenges fa [2D [K faced by young adult carers, noting that over 131,000 individuals aged 16 t [1D [K to 24 provide at least 20 hours of unpaid care weekly. She raised concerns [K about the impact on their education and training, with fewer than half leav [4D [K leaving secondary school with five GCSEs including English and maths, and A [1D [K A-level success rates being 60% lower compared to non-carers. Ms Collins al [2D [K also discussed the invisibility felt by young carers and called for better [K support through initiatives such as appointing a young carers lead in every [5D [K every school and college, abolishing the 21-hour rule for carers' allowance [9D [K allowance, restoring maintenance grants, and making caring a protected char [4D [K characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.
Government Response
Josh MacAlister
Government Response
Thanked the Member for Harlow for securing the debate and acknowledged the work of the APPG chaired by him. Recognised the challenges faced by young carers and the Government's efforts to support them through various initiatives, including data publication, Ofsted framework changes, cross-Government meetings, and an upcoming action plan. Emphasized the provision of bursaries for further education students aged 16 to 19 and maintenance grants for higher education students from low-income households. Mentioned ongoing discussions about carer's allowance and its impact on full-time students, committing to follow up with relevant Ministers on these issues.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.