YCAD 2022 | Taking Action on Isolation

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alt text: banner for YCAD, showing the hashtag #YoungCarersActionDay

What is YCAD?

Young Carers Action Day (YCAD) is a yearly event organised by Carers Trust. Some of you are super familiar with the fabulous work they do - they're the UK's leading carer charity.

The aim of YCAD is to raise public awareness of our young carers and young adult carers, the pressures and challenges you face, and the amazing difference you make by caring for family and friends.

It is also a day to call for more action to support young and young adult carers and give them the extra bit of help they need to live full and healthy lives.

Taking Action on Isolation

This year, it's all about Taking Action on Isolation. So many young carers and young adult carers experience isolation, and Carers Trust are aiming to tackle that. They want decision makers to make sure young carers and young adult carers have access to respite (when someone else looks after the person you're caring for in order to give you a break). Hopefully respite eventually becomes a right for all carers.

What you can do - Share Something Good

Carers Trust have a suggestion on what you can do to help - Share Something Good.

Carers Trust wrote:

It is important to recognise and celebrate things that are going well or make a positive difference to tackle young carers’ isolation. Sharing this information can encourage more people do the same.

An example could be:

Write down your experience of being a young carer at school
My school has a young carer pupil group that meets once a week at lunchtime. It helps us connect with other young and young adult carers in our school. And it also helps us plan school awareness campaigns so our peers and school staff become more aware of young and young adult carers. It also gives us an opportunity to check in with how we are doing in school. We’ve also invited the leader of our local young carer group to speak to us about the support they can offer.

ACTION: Celebrate your school’s success on social media, tagging in other schools and people like politicians so they can share your positive example.

RESULT: More schools and colleges are aware of effective ways to support young and young adult carers to help them take action to prevent isolation.

If you don't have experience of being a young carer or young adult carer, you can still get involved and show your support by using the hashtag #YoungCarersActionDay 🎉