Caring Together: The Carers Strategy for Scotland 2010 - 2015

APPENDIX 3 PROFILE OF YOUNG CARERS

Census 2001

The following table breaks down the number of young carers according to their age and the reported numbers of hours care they were providing each week.

Age	1-19 hours	20-49 hours	50 or more	Total Number	Total %
5-7	626	77	103	806	4.8%
8-9	963	108	134	1205	7.2%
10-11	1,702	176	166	2044	12.2%
12-14	4,191	405	349	4945	29.6%
15	1,800	271	148	2219	13.2%
16-17	4,229	789	464	5482	32.8%
All	13, 511	1,826	1,364	16,701	100%
All as %	80%	11%	8%	100%

The 2001 Census provides further information on the numbers of young adult carers aged 18-25 years in Scotland.

Numbers of older young carers aged 18-25 years in Scotland		Caring for 0-19 hours		Caring for 20-49 hours		Caring for 50 + hours		Total number caring	Proportion of this age group providing informal care
		15,417		3,203		2,495		21,115	5%

Other Sources

1. In 2002, an audit of schools in Highland found that at least 10% of children and young people identified themselves as carers, after receiving a class lesson about young carers. The figure rose to 15% when those young people who thought they might be young carers, but weren't sure, were added. Applying the lower figure to the population of school age children in Scotland suggests that over 80,000 children and young people could be young carers in Scotland.

2. A study of hidden young carers in rural Perth and Kinross found that 13.5% of the school age population identified themselves as young carers. Using this percentage figure would indicate a national figure of over 115,000 young carers.

3. In 2009, secondary school pupils in Renfrewshire were surveyed about their health and well-being. Of the 5557 who replied, 1250 reported that they were living in the same household as someone affected by disability, illness, or substance misuse issues. 3 in 5 of these pupils said that they were carers. This again equates to 13.5% of those surveyed.

4. Glasgow's Joint Young Carers Strategy (2002-2005) refers to research carried out by the Greater Glasgow NHS Board in 2000. This "Youth Health Survey" received returns from 2,600 young people aged 12-15 years, of whom 11.1% were found to be young carers.

"Young Carers in the UK; the 2004 Report" Summary

General

56% Girls, 44% Boys
Average age 12
56% in lone parent families
84% white
10% caring for more than one person

Duration of Caring

36%	- caring for 2 years or less
44%	- caring for 3-5 years
18%	- caring for 6-10 years
3%	- caring for more than 10 years

Age of Young Carers

0-4	0
5-7	4%
8-9	5%
10-11	11%
12-14	31%
15	14%
16-17	35%

Intensity of caring

5 hours	15%
6-10 hours	34%
11-15 hours	17%
16-20 hours	16%
21-30 hours	10%
31-40 hours	4%
Over 40 hours	4%

Caring for Whom

50% of cared for have a physical disability
29% of cared-for have a mental health problem
17% of cared-for have a learning disability (sibling care)
3% of cared-for have a sensory impairment

In 52% of cases, caring for mother or step-mother (70% in one parent families).
In 14% of cases, caring for a father or step-father
In 31% of cases, caring for a sibling (63% with learning disability).

Types of Caring

Domestic Tasks (68%) - shopping, cooking, cleaning, ironing

General Care (48%) - medication, mobility, transfers, changing dressings

Emotional Support (82%) - responding to mood, supporting, supervision

Intimate Care (18%) - washing, dressing, personal care, toileting

Child Care (11%) - caring for siblings

Other (7%) - translating, administration, hospital visits, paying bills

Gender Issues

Overall, girls are more involved in all aspects of caring. This is more marked in respect of domestic and intimate care, both of which have traditionally fallen to women. 75% of girls, but only 65% of boys, provide domestic care, while 22% of girls and 13% of boys provide personal, intimate care.