Young Carers Action Day 2025 – 'Give Me A Break'

6th March 2025

Bristol and South Gloucestershire Young Carers Support Marks Young Carers Action Day on 12th March 2025.

Young Carers Action Day (YCAD) 2025 takes place on 12th March 2025, with this year’s theme, “Give Me A Break”, highlighting the crucial need for rest and respite for young carers.

Young carers and young adult carers often feel overwhelmed by the demands of their caring responsibilities, which they must manage alongside school, college, and personal life. This year’s YCAD theme underscores the importance of giving them the chance to take a break—whether through dedicated respite services, time with other young carers who understand their experiences, or greater support from schools and employers.

At Young Carers Support, we provide young carers with the opportunity to step away from their responsibilities, meet others in similar situations, and receive the support they need to thrive. The theme also emphasises the need to give young carers a break in life by ensuring they receive proper support in education and employment. Schools can play a role by offering additional academic support and flexibility, while employers can help young adult carers by providing mentoring schemes, career insight days, and internships.

As part of our preparations for YCAD, young carers have been exploring what “Give Me A Break” means to them, creating artwork and projects during the recent half-term holiday.

Events and Activities

A variety of events will take place across the region in recognition of YCAD 2025, including:

• Free school passes to We The Curious and SS Great Britain.
• Schools receiving resources to highlight the role of young carers in families and communities.
• Events at UWE Bristol and various workplaces to discuss how young carers can be better supported.
• A Young Carers Action Day Celebration Event on 2nd April at The Station, Silver Street, Bristol, bringing together young carers from secondary schools across Bristol for a day of workshops and activities delivered by partner organisations.

Young Carers’ Voices

We have been speaking with young carers about what ‘Give Me A Break’ means to them. Here are some of their thoughts:

Why do you need a break?

• “To be able to help others, we need to rest and relax.”
• “It’s good for my mental health to be away from my sister for a while in the holidays because she is exhausting.”
• “Young carers have allowed me to have fun and meet other young carers, and I now have friends.”

What should the Prime Minister do to help young carers?

• “Stop homework as I can't do it when caring for my dad.”
• “Give more money for support and trips.”
• “Teach teachers to understand that I find things hard sometimes.”
• “Provide more funding for young carers so there are more staff to help us.”

Additionally, young carers have creatively designed their ideal ‘escape island’, illustrating their dream ways to take a break and receive support.

Young Carers Podcast

We are excited to share a podcast created by our young carers during a recent locality group session. Listen here: Young Carers Podcast

Ongoing Support for Young Carers

Our Bristol locality groups for young carers aged 11-17 run fortnightly in North Bristol, South Bristol, and East and Central Bristol. These sessions, run in partnership with Creative Youth Network, provide a supportive environment where young carers can connect, share experiences, and access tailored support.

If you are a young carer in Bristol or South Gloucestershire and are not yet receiving our support, please get in touch. 

Contact the Young Carers Support team at Carers Support