Unpaid Carers Annual Survey - Young Carer
Are You a Young Carer in Reading? We Want to Hear From You!
Do you help look after someone in your family, like a parent, brother or sister, grandparent, or someone else? You might be a young carer—and your voice matters.
Reading Borough Council has a short survey just for young carers like you. We want to know what life is like for you, what support you get, and what help you might need.
Your answers will help us make things better for young carers across Reading—at school, at home, and in your community.
Phases
Results and outcomes
Summary Report: Young Carers Survey 2025
The results of the Young Carers Survey are now in. We took the opportunity to share the findings with our key stakeholders, especially those who designed the survey including Reading Borough Council colleagues, Brighter Futures for Children colleagues, voluntary sector organisations, health professionals, and carers themselves. This was discussed at the Carers Steering Group meeting on 3rd September.
The findings were also presented to senior colleagues in Social Care and the lead councillor within the week following the steering group meeting.
Following these presentations, we agreed on action plan to address findings. We acknowledge the low response rate to this survey, which means the results may not be representative of all young carers in Reading, however we can still draw useful themes from the findings which directed our focus on which actions to deliver first. For example, the Carers Lead and Brighter Futures for Children colleagues delivered an awareness raising event with training of the new Young Carers Assessment tool to education staff in November following feedback that more support could be given in schools. In addition, Young Carers now have access to a Carers Card, providing them an ID as a carer as well as discounts for shops and restaurants. This supports feedback that young carers would like more recognition and understanding of their roles as carers.
Below are findings relating to demographics and carer specific responsibilities.
Summary Report: Young Carers Survey 2025
The results of the Young Carers Survey are now in. We took the opportunity to share the findings with our key stakeholders, especially those who designed the survey including Reading Borough Council colleagues, Brighter Futures for Children colleagues, voluntary sector organisations, health professionals, and carers themselves. This was discussed at the Carers Steering Group meeting on 3rd September.
The findings were also presented to senior colleagues in Social Care and the lead councillor within the week following the steering group meeting.
Following these presentations, we agreed on action plan to address findings. We acknowledge the low response rate to this survey, which means the results may not be representative of all young carers in Reading, however we can still draw useful themes from the findings which directed our focus on which actions to deliver first. For example, the Carers Lead and Brighter Futures for Children colleagues delivered an awareness raising event with training of the new Young Carers Assessment tool to education staff in November following feedback that more support could be given in schools. In addition, Young Carers now have access to a Carers Card, providing them an ID as a carer as well as discounts for shops and restaurants. This supports feedback that young carers would like more recognition and understanding of their roles as carers.
Below are findings relating to demographics and carer specific responsibilities.
Which ward do you live in?
What is your age?
What is your sex?
Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?
What is your ethnic group?
Do you have a disability?
Do you see yourself as a young carer?
How did you first know you were a carer?
Who do you care for?
Which of these apply to the person/people you care for:
What do you do to support the person you care for:
The full set of results will be published following the meetings where they will be presented in early September.