Two out of three young carers 'bullied at school'

Published on Sunday 16 May 2010 19:08

TWO out of three children who care for sick or disabled family members in Scotland are bullied at school, according to a survey published today.

A total of 70 per cent of those questioned also said that being a young carer had made their lives more difficult.

The survey, by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, took the views of 700 young carers aged six to 18 across the UK.

In Scotland, where 48 carers were questioned, 69.6 per cent said they had been bullied, compared with 77.8 per cent in the south-west of England, 71.4 per cent in the East Midlands and 69.8 per cent in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Scotland was ranked seventh in the UK for the percentage of young carers who said they had been bullied.

The trust currently provides information, advice and support services to about 400,000 carers, including 25,000 young carers in the UK.

More than a third of carers in Scotland – 37.5 per cent – worry about the person they care for when they are at school and one-fifth suffer from the stress of juggling schoolwork and caring responsibilities.

Other young carers said they had experienced tiredness or depression, and had missed homework deadlines. A total of 70.8 per cent also said there was not a single teacher at their school who knew they were a young carer.

Carole Cochrane, chief executive at the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, said: "It is shocking to discover that so many young carers in Scotland have to endure bullying, mental health problems and a lack of support from their teachers, all because they care for a family member unable to cope without their help.

"Sadly, without the right support, many young carers will underachieve or simply drop out of school altogether."

A total of 63.5 per cent of the youngsters questioned cared for a parent, 45.7 per cent for a sibling and 8.9 per cent for a grandparent.

To help such youngsters, the trust and the Children's Society have launched an advice booklet, Supporting Young Carers, as well as a poster campaign that is to be introduced in secondary schools in Scotland this month.