"Community sport helps to fill the tank of a young carer so they can continue to fill the tank of the ones they take care of."

March 12, 2025, marks Young Carers Action Day, which aims to raise awareness and encourage as many organisations, communities and individuals as possible to take action.

In the article below, Sarah, our Senior Development Manager, explores how we can use the power of community to support the country’s young carers.

Article by Sarah Jones

For thousands of young carers across the UK, daily life is a delicate balancing act of school, household responsibilities and providing essential care for a loved one.

As a former young carer myself, I am committed to supporting community sports clubs to understand, support and welcome young carers into their communities. I didn’t have access to community sport as a young person, and this added to the feeling of being isolated as a young carer. If I had a club to belong to, I would have had a better support network, better friendships and more opportunities to thrive as an individual first, rather than my caring responsibilities taking priority as they usually did.

Often, with young carers, their well-being takes a backseat as they navigate challenges beyond their years. Community sport can be a vital opportunity for young carers to step away from their responsibilities, build friendships, improve their mental and physical health and just be young people before they become young carers.

But despite its benefits, access to sport remains a challenge for many young carers, and the majority miss out on its transformational benefits. I experience these issues with many of the communities I work with through my role at Access Sport.

The Carers Trust estimate there to be 1 million young people aged between 5 and 18 providing care to a parent, sibling or family friend who is disabled or needs support due to illness, addiction or mental health problems.

Care can come in many forms, from supporting with sibling care or tidying up at home to more taxing responsibilities such as administering medication and supporting with personal care or financial support. For many of these young people, their caring roles can amount to 50 hours per week and can affect their education, well-being, sense of identity and independence. Their opportunities to access activities outside the home or school may be reduced due to their caring responsibilities.

However, community sport is more than just a recreational activity for young carers—it is a crucial source of support that can positively impact their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Engaging in sports gives young carers a much-needed break from their responsibilities, giving them a chance to focus on themselves, develop friendships and build a sense of belonging. Despite this, barriers such as financial constraints, lack of time, and limited access to local sports programmes often prevent young carers from participating.

Eman, a former young carer, I regularly work alongside at my role at Access Sport said:

“Young caring can be quite isolating, so having a team/community to play sports with was honestly one of the best things I could've ever been involved with. On a personal level, I received a lot of support from coaches and players who got to know me and my situation, which helped me to feel seen, loved and also disciplined to be a better individual despite my circumstances. Community sport helps to fill the tank of a young carer so they can continue to fill the tank of the ones they take care of.”

Interested in learning more about how you can better support young carers in your community sport club?
Join our upcoming “Empowering Young Carers Through Community Sport” webinar to discover practical strategies to create an inclusive environment, promote mental well-being, and empower young carers to thrive both during their sports sessions and beyond.  

Wednesday, 19 March 2025
6 pm - 7:30 pm
Online, via Zoom

Register to Attend>