On Wednesday 11 June, Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock MP, signed the Young Carers Covenant at an event in Parliament to mark Carers Week, ahead of the day focussed on young carers and young adult carers (Thursday 12 June 2025).
One of the key recommendations from charities supporting Carers Week this year, is asking national governments, local authorities, schools, colleges as well as parliamentarians across the UK position to sign up to the Covenant and commit to taking action to help achieve these outcomes.
The Young Carers Covenant is a UK-wide commitment to young carers and young adult carers. It includes ten key outcomes that young carers from across the UK have said are key to improving their lives. Launched on Young Carers Action Day 2024, the Covenant was drawn up by Carers Trust and members of the Young Carers Alliance.
Those who sign the covenant commit to a future where all young carers and young adult carers:
- Are identified at the earliest opportunity
- Are able to thrive in education
- Can access and succeed in employment/training opportunities
- Have time for themselves
- Are safe and secure
- Can access support for themselves and their family
- Feel they have choices in their lives
- Have good physical and mental health
- Can access and benefit from the rights they have
- Live free from poverty
“We are delighted that the Minister took the opportunity to sign this important document during our event with carers in Parliament during Carers Week. We are really pleased to see that he is chairing cross-Government Ministerial meetings about unpaid carers, including the Department for Education and we look forward to hearing more in the future.
"Signing the Covenant is particularly important given the research results this year for Carers Week which found that young adult carers and former carers (aged 18-24) were most likely to say they face disadvantages in relation to their finances (58%) and in taking breaks (67%).
“That’s why we were pleased to see Minister Kinnock stand with us, Carers Trust, and all the charities involved this year in committing to take action to support a fair future for all young carers and young adult carers.”
Responding, Dominic Carter, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Carers Trust, said:
“We warmly welcome Minister Kinnock signing the Young Carers Covenant. This Carers Week has helped shine a light on the impact caring can have on the futures of young people. The Department of Health and Social Care’s decision to sign is a vital, though initial, step in recognising what is most important to young carers to overcome the challenges they face.
“We look forward to working with UK Government and the Carers Week partners to turn this commitment into meaningful action that delivers real change and improved support for young carers across the UK.”
