Young Carers Action Day: Creating Fairer Futures

19th March 2026

To mark Young Carers Action Day, we brought together more than 50 young carers for a special event at the Armadillo Youth Café and Venue in Yate. This year’s theme, “Fairer Futures,” focused on giving young carers the support, opportunities and understanding they need to thrive.

Young carers from South Gloucestershire secondary schools — Abbeywood, Patchway, Bradley Stoke, Winterbourne, Brimsham Green, Chipping Sodbury and Yate Academy — joined us for a day of workshops, conversations, creativity and connection. The event gave young carers space to explore their hopes and dreams for the future, try something new and meet others who share similar experiences.

Workshops and activities

The day included a mix of inspiring and practical sessions:

• Talks from professionals who were young carers themselves, sharing their stories, challenges, and the valuable skills caring has given them in their careers.
• A Young Carers Voice session with decision‑makers from Education, Commissioning, and Children & Young People’s Services — giving young carers the chance to say directly what support they need to achieve their aspirations.
• Creative and skills‑based workshops, including music, graffiti, football skills, finance, and a visit to the local fire station.

What young carers told us they need for a fairer future

During the Young Carers Voice session, young people shared several priorities, including:

• Regular young carers groups in school
• Someone to talk to
• Support around attendance issues
• A “time out” card for quick breaks and resets
• More interactive, engaging careers events
• Regular opportunities to talk about their future
• Tailored coaching and support throughout education

These insights will help shape how services, schools and organisations better support young carers moving forward.

Three words to describe the day

Although full evaluation is still underway, early feedback captured the spirit of the event. One young carer summed it up in three words:

“Fun, involved, proud.”

More about our work with Young Carers