Read real stories from Young Carers in Dudley and learn how Dudley Young Carers Service supports young people with caring responsibilities.

Many young people across Dudley quietly support family members who need help. These young people are known as Young Carers. If you are a Young Carer, or there is a child or young person helping in your household, support is available through Dudley Dudley Young Carers Service.

Young Carers often balance school, friendships, and everyday life alongside caring responsibilities. With the right support, they can build confidence, improve wellbeing, and connect with others who understand their experiences.

What Is a Young Carer?

A Young Carer is a child or young person under 18 who helps care for a family member who may:

• have a disability
• live with long-term illness
• experience mental health challenges
• have additional support needs

Young Carers may help with practical tasks at home, provide emotional support, or care for siblings. Without support, these responsibilities can affect education, social life and emotional wellbeing. That is why services like Dudley Young Carers Service exist.

What’s Like Being a Young Carer?

(Names and images have been changed to protect anonymity).

What do Young Carers in Dudley Think About our Support?

During the school holidays, some of the Young Carers went to Dudley Zoo, Cannon Raceway (go karting), Dudley canal trip, Legoland Discovery Centre, Baggerbridge Adventure and even Cadbury World.

“I am having the best time!” (Youth Club)

“I have never done this before, its so fun!” – (High Ropes at Baggeridge)

“I made a friend, and she lives near me too. I am going to see if we can have a play date after school one day”

“We can’t go out much, so I like coming here” (Summer Youth Club)

“Can we do this again next year – I had the best time” (Outdoor Activity)

Get Support for Young Carers in Dudley

If you are a Young Carer, or know a child/teenager who helps care for a family member, support is available through Dudley Young Carers Service providing:

• In-Person Youth Clubs (enjoy activities with other Young Carers)
• Day trips (fun activities during the school holidays)
• Online Clubs (for those who prefer to join from home)
• Guidance and Advice (how to access other help available)
• Support for Schools (training to identify and support Young Carers)
• Signposting for Families (for practical help and wider support)
• Resources (support for mental health and emergency contacts)

Start receiving free support by clicking the relevant link.

#YoungCarersActionDay

Wednesday 11th March 2026 marks Young Carers Action Day, a national day dedicated to raising awareness of the challenges faced by the estimated 120,000 Young Carers across the UK.  

Young Carers can face an array of additional challenges as a result of their role, often impacting their own education, wellbeing and childhood.  

Young Carers Action Day shines a light on these challenges, highlighting how through signposting, support and community, we can help Young Carers live their childhood too.  

Fair Futures for Young Carers

This year’s theme is “Fair Futures for Young Carers.” The campaign focuses on ensuring that young people with caring responsibilities have the same opportunities as their peers to learn, grow, and achieve their ambitions. 

Research from Carers First highlights the scale of the challenge: 

• Only 45% of Young Carers leave secondary school with five GCSEs including English and Maths 
• Just 49% meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of primary school 

These figures highlight how caring responsibilities can create barriers that affect not only a young person’s current wellbeing but also their future opportunities and life outcomes. 

At Forward Carers, we see first-hand the realities of this.  

We recently supported a 14-year-old girl who had become the primary Carer in her household after her mother left the family home. 

She was caring for her father, who has learning difficulties, a physical disability, and ongoing mental health challenges, as well as her younger brother, aged eight. 

With no other adult in the home, she had taken on responsibilities far beyond what most children experience. Her role included: 

1. Supporting her father with bathing, toileting and getting out of bed 
2. Cooking meals for the household 
3. Helping her younger brother get to school and supporting him with homework 
4. Leaving school during the day to check on and support her father 

This level of responsibility meant she had very little time to focus on her own education, friendships, and wellbeing. 

Sadly, this situation is not unique. Many Young Carers are managing similar responsibilities every day. 

With the right support, recognition, and access to services, Young Carers like her can be supported to reduce the weight of these responsibilities and focus on their own wellbeing, education, and future aspirations. 

In this example, our Young Carers Service were able to offer practical and community-based opportunities. This included providing food vouchers to help with immediate financial pressures, as well as inviting the children to attend local youth clubs and organised trips to encourage social interaction, confidence building, and respite from caring responsibilities.  

In addition, the family were signposted to Early Help services and Social Services so they could access further guidance, coordinated support, and longer-term assistance where needed. 

However, thousands of Young Carers across the UK are still facing similar situations without the support they need. Young Carers Action Day is an opportunity to shine a light on these hidden challenges and drive change. 

Our Commitment to Young Carers 

At Forward Carers, we are committed to ensuring that Young Carers are recognised, supported, and given the opportunities they deserve. 

Our mission is to build Carer Friendly Communities, where unpaid Carers of all ages are valued and supported to maintain their own wellbeing alongside their caring role. 

Every Young Carer deserves the chance to learn, grow, and enjoy their childhood. By working together as communities, partners, and services, we can help create fairer futures for Young Carers everywhere. 

Click HERE to find out more about Young Carers Action Day 2026! 

This Christmas, Dudley Young Carers helped spread some much-needed festive cheer by distributing Christmas presents to families of Young Carers, thanks to the generosity of Cash4Kids Mission Christmas.  Supporting at the event was Dudley Councillor Wayne Little, Cabinet member for Children and Young People.

For many Young Carers, Christmas can be a difficult time. Alongside school and friendships, they often carry caring responsibilities that can feel even heavier during the festive period. That’s why moments like these are so special — they remind Young Carers that they are seen, valued, and cared for too.

With the help of Mission Christmas, we were able to provide gifts that brought smiles, excitement, and a real sense of joy to Young Carers and their families. From thoughtful presents to festive surprises, each gift helped make Christmas feel a little brighter.

One parent shared just how much this support meant to their family:

“Christmas is such a worrying time when money is tight, and with everything else we’re dealing with, it can feel overwhelming. Knowing that my child would have something special to open on Christmas Day lifted such a weight off our shoulders. It really means more than words can say.”

We would like to extend our huge thanks to Cash4Kids Mission Christmas for their incredible work supporting children and young people, especially Young Carers in Dudley. Their kindness and community spirit truly made a difference. Thank you also to Councillor Wayne Little for helping to get the presents unloaded and ready on the tables. 

Seeing the happiness on Young Carers’ faces was a powerful reminder of why this work matters. Together, through partnership and generosity, we can continue to make sure Young Carers feel supported — not just at Christmas, but all year round.

From all of us at Dudley Young Carers, thank you for helping us make this Christmas a special one.

Forward Carers is delighted to present Ridgewater Energy with our Carer Friendly Employer Commitment Mark, recognising the organisation’s commitment to creating a supportive, inclusive workplace for employees who also have unpaid caring responsibilities. 

This award is given to employers who can clearly demonstrate progress against our five Carer Friendly Standards. These standards help ensure that staff who are Carers feel recognised, understood, and supported, including having the flexibility to take additional time off when needed to meet their caring responsibilities. 

Peter Bywater, Managing Director at Ridgewater Energy, said: 
“We are really proud to receive this award, in recognition of our company’s culture, under which, we care about our employees and give them the support and flexibility, to fulfil any caring responsibilities they may have now, and in the future. We recognise that there is always more we can do, but in achieving this recognition, we have made a strong commitment to carry on providing and strengthening this support.” 

One Ridgewater employee, who is an unpaid Carer for their parents, shared the impact this support has had: 
“I really value and appreciate knowing that the support is there, when I need it. Because, I know there is the flexibility for me to have extra time off, flexibility in attending appointments and knowing the company I work for, fully support my needs and go beyond what is typically expected from legislation, I can focus on both my wellness and my parents care, knowing they have my back.” 

Across the UK, 1 in 7 workers are unpaid Carers. Many juggle demanding roles at home and work and are often the most skilled and experienced staff. Without the right support in work, Carers Uk estimate 600 people in UK leave work every day due to caring.  

Ridgewater Energy has taken proactive steps to address this. Their team completed Carer Awareness Training, increasing understanding of unpaid caring roles and equipping advisors and assessors with the knowledge to better support clients and advocate for Carers. The organisation also actively supports the wider caring community through donations, attending events, delivering talks, and ensuring Carers’ needs are considered throughout their projects. 

Rachel Close, Programme Manager for Community and Business Relationships at Forward Carers, said: 
“We are incredibly impressed by the dedication and care Ridgewater Energy has shown in putting the wellbeing of their staff at the heart of their workplace culture. Their commitment goes beyond supporting employees who are Carers – by completing our Carer Awareness training, they have ensured that all staff are equipped to recognise and understand the challenges Carers face, both within their workforce and across the wider community. It’s inspiring to see a company using this knowledge to guide others towards support, creating a ripple effect of care and understanding that truly embodies what it means to be a Carer Friendly Employer.” 

Forward Carers is proud to recognise Ridgewater Energy’s leadership and commitment. Their actions set a strong example for employers across Dorset and show what is possible when workplaces truly value and empower Carers.

Forward Carers is proud to recognise Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) as a recipient of our Carer Friendly Employer Commitment Mark. This prestigious award acknowledges workplaces that actively support staff who carry unpaid caring responsibilities, through recognition, policies, and a supportive culture. 

BCHC has taken a leading role in this commitment by establishing a dedicated Carers Staff Network and embedding wellbeing support, flexible practices and Carer workplace Champions. 

Richard Kirby, CEO of BCHC, said: 

“We’ve been on a journey of seeking to take the support for people in BCHC who are Carers more seriously for quite a while now and I am really grateful to the Carers’ network for helping us do that. Their role as critical friends, raising issues, giving us feedback, helping us think through sensible responses, is really important. It’s been eye-opening just how many in our staff have caring responsibilities outside of work. Our job as an employer has to be to make it as easy as possible for people juggling work and care.”  

Simon Fenton, CEO of Forward Carers, added during the Carer’s Rights Day event and award presentation: 

“Your staff network, your enhanced access to wellbeing support, your clear signposting, and your commitment to creating local care champions all demonstrate a Trust that genuinely understands its workforce and is prepared to invest in their wellbeing. In a sector where caring responsibilities are especially common, BCHC shows how a truly supportive, flexible and compassionate employer can operate.”  

Rachel Close, Programme Manager at Forward Carers, commented: 

“As a working Carer myself, it is always a joy to meet passionate, like-minded staff networks. Joint Network Chairs Akunna Madufor and Abdulsalam Olatunde have continued to juggle work, caring and leading this new staff network with such energy and commitment. I’m looking forward to continuing our training and mentoring support as the network grows.” 

Forward Carers applauds BCHC’s for taking tangible steps towards embedding carer-friendly practice across the organisation. Their achievement highlights the significant difference employers can make when they acknowledge and support unpaid Carers among their workforce and the wealth of knowledge and experience these staff members provide.  

We look forward to continuing our partnership with BCHC, delivering training, mentoring and guidance as they continue to embed their commitment to Carers.

Your Carer Friendly ID Card helps you be recognised quickly, whether you’re collecting a prescription, visiting hospital, speaking to school or work, or accessing local support. 

Many Carers and Young Carers tell us how much they appreciate having a digital version they can access instantly on their phone, especially on busy days. That’s why we encourage you to store your card safely on your smartphone and show it whenever you need it. 

We’re also working on a new, improved Carer ID Card based on your feedback. While that’s in development, thank you for sticking with us and making the most of the digital version. 

Here’s a Step-by-step guide 

Option 1: Add Your Carer ID Card to Your Mobile Wallet (Android)

If you have an Android phone, you can store your card in Google Wallet. This keeps it safely in one place, just like bank cards or travel passes. 

How to add your card: 

1. Open the Google Wallet app. 
2. Tap “+ Add to Wallet”, then choose “Everything else”. 
3. Take a clear photo of both sides of your Carer ID Card 
   – tap the button when prompted to capture the second side. 
4. Select “ID Card” as the type. 
5. Add any extra details if the app asks (for example, your region). 
6. Tap Save or Add. 

Once added, you can open Google Wallet any time and tap ‘View pass images’ to show both sides of your Carer ID Card when asked. 

Option 2: Save Your Carer ID Card in Your Phone’s Photo Gallery (All Phones)

This option works on all smartphones, including iPhones and Android devices. 

How to do it: 

1. Take a photo of both sides of your Carer ID Card. 
2. Save the images in your phone’s photo gallery. 
3. Move them into your Favourites or Starred folder so they’re easy to find quickly. 

This simple method is great for Young Carers or anyone who wants a no-fuss digital version. 

Why Using a Digital Card Helps

Keeping a digital version of your Carer ID Card means: 

• You can show it instantly in appointments, pharmacies, workplaces, shops, or schools. 
• It reduces the risk of losing the physical card. 
• It helps people recognise your caring role when you need support. 
• It’s an easy backup while we work on your enhanced card. 

Several Carers also tell us that carrying a digital card gives them added confidence, especially when explaining their role to professionals who may not always understand the pressures they’re under. 

More on the Carer Friendly ID Card

If you are yet to apply for your Carer ID Card, or want to know more about what it is and how it can support you in your Caring role, click on the link below to view our dedicated blog explaining this. 

Forward Carers is proud to celebrate Action for Children’s achievement of the Carer Friendly Employer Commitment Mark, a milestone that reflects an ongoing commitment to gradual, sustainable change. We will continue to support Action for Children as they embed Carer-friendly practices and implement the changes they wish to see across their organisation.

This proactive approach ensures that positive Carer awareness, access to support within Action for Children and the wider community, and strong advocacy for Carers are embedded throughout the organisation’s culture and practice.

Rachel Close, Programme Manager at Forward Carers, said:
“It’s been a real pleasure working with Action for Children to support their journey towards becoming a Carer Friendly Employer. By developing Carer Champions across the country and launching a dedicated staff network, they’ve demonstrated a genuine commitment to creating a workplace where every Carer feels valued and understood.”

Brigitte Gater, Managing Director of Children’s Services at Action for Children, added:

“Action for Children is incredibly proud to achieve the Carer Friendly Employer Commitment mark, confirming our dedication towards creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all staff.

“We have been working closely with Forward Carers and colleagues within Action for Children who are Carers themselves, to ensure we are putting systems in place that properly support staff with personal caring responsibilities.

“We have set up a staff network for Carers and are developing trained Carer Champions, who will ensure that Action for Children continues to provide effective support to staff and improve wellbeing, including offering flexible working arrangements and paid dependency leave.

“Our aim is to empower staff to balance work and care and receive the support they need to feel happier, healthier and understood – and we are thrilled that these efforts have been recognised.”

About Action for Children
Action for Children protects and supports vulnerable children and young people by providing practical and emotional care and support, ensuring their voices are heard, and campaigning to bring lasting improvements to their lives. With 342 services in local communities across the UK, in schools and online, in 2024/2025 the charity supported 551,400 children, young people, and families.

The theme this year is “Know your rights, use your rights”. This day is a call to recognise and celebrate the vital contribution of unpaid Carers and to ensure that you – the Carers we support – are empowered with the knowledge, tools and support you deserve.

Why this day matters

There are an estimated 5.8 million unpaid Carers in the UK – people providing care to a partner, family member, friend or neighbour without being paid. Many Carers do not recognise themselves as Carers, and may miss out on the rights and support available. Knowing your rights is not just about legal entitlement, it’s about safeguarding your wellbeing, protecting your role as a Carer, and enabling the person you care for to receive the best support.

What rights should Carers know about?

Here are some of the key rights and entitlements you should be aware of:

• The right to a Carer’s Assessment: if your caring role is affecting your life, you have the right to ask your local authority for an assessment to identify support for you.
• The right to be identified as a Carer: for example, on GP records, and to access immunisations or health checks.
• Employment-related rights: you have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment, and under the new framework you can change arrangements more than once a year.
• The right to challenge when your rights are not being met: whether that is discrimination in the workplace, being left out of decisions about the person you care for, or transitions between children’s and adult services.

What we at Forward Carers are doing…

As a values-driven social enterprise dedicated to recognising, valuing and supporting unpaid Carers, here’s how we are marking this Carers Rights Day:

Events (online & in- person) across our regions (Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, Dorset and Wiltshire) to help you understand your rights, ask questions and access support.

• Measurement and impact focus: we will track how many Carers access the sessions, how many undertake a Carer’s Assessment after the event, and how many report feeling more confident in exercising their rights in our service areas over next 12 months.
• Testimonies & case-studies: sharing real-life stories of unpaid Carers we support, to highlight the difference that rights awareness can make.

Why it matters for Carers and whole families…

For the Carer: this day and ongoing work is about you – your health, your potential to carry out caring in a sustainable way, your ability to have a life outside caring.

For the person you care for: when you are supported and empowered, the quality of care improves, the relationship is stronger, and the whole family benefits.

For services & businesses: recognising and supporting unpaid Carers reduces hidden costs, prevents crises, and builds resilient, Carer-Friendly communities. Indeed, Carers underpin our health and social care systems, and deserve to be “seen, heard and supported”.

How you can get involved

• If you are a Carer (or think you might be) — book into one of our Carers Rights Day sessions and use the day to gain information and advice or: “What rights am I entitled to? Am I using them?”
• If you are an employer or organisation — join us in promoting Carer-Friendly policies, sharing resources, and making your workplace one where Carers are recognised and supported.
• Share your story: whether via our social channels or email us — your voice helps others realise they are not alone.

Closing thoughts

On this Carers Rights Day we commit to standing with you: helping you know your rights, feel confident to use them, and supporting you to live a life beyond caring. As one of our partners said recently: “When Carers understand their rights, everything changes.” We look forward to working together to build Carer-Friendly Communities where unpaid Carers are truly recognised, valued and supported.

Are you ready to rediscover your confidence, explore new opportunities, and take the next step after caring?

Forward Carers, in partnership with BMet College, is excited to offer the ReStart: Next Steps Programme — a free two-week course designed especially for current and former unpaid Carers. Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, this brand-new programme has been co-created to help Carers build confidence, reflect on their skills, and take positive steps towards education, training, or work.

What’s Included

🗓 Key Dates

• Assessment Day: Wednesday 12th November, 10am–1pm
• Course Dates: Monday 17th November – Friday 5th December
• Location: Matthew Boulton College, 1 Jennens Road, Birmingham, B4 7PS

Why Join?

Caring for someone often means putting your own ambitions on hold. The ReStart Programme is here to remind you of your potential and help you take the next step — whether that’s returning to education, exploring a new career path, or simply regaining confidence in what you have to offer.

This course has been developed with Carers in mind, combining expert guidance from BMet tutors with Forward Carers’ understanding of Carer experiences. Together, we’re helping to build Carer Friendly Communities across the West Midlands, where every Carer feels recognised, valued, and supported to thrive.

Book Your Free Place

Spaces are limited — don’t miss this opportunity to invest in yourself and your future.

For more information, contact adultskills@bmet.ac.uk

We’re delighted to share the impact of the free bus pass service, provided in partnership with Travel West Midlands. Carers across our community have told us how valuable this support has been – not just for practical journeys, but also for wellbeing, connection, and independence. 

Here are some of the ways Carers have been using their bus passes: 

Supporting the person/people, they care for 

• Getting to appointments: Many Carers use the pass to take the person they care for to essential GP, hospital, or therapy appointments, ensuring health needs are met without worrying about the cost of travel. 
• Other caring journeys: Whether it’s picking up prescriptions, visiting day centres, or accompanying their loved one to activities, Carers told us the pass gives them peace of mind that these everyday journeys are covered. 
  

Supporting Their Own Needs as a Carer 

• Carer support groups & wellbeing sessions: Carers are using the pass to attend drop-ins, peer support groups, or wellbeing classes. Having travel covered helps reduce barriers to taking a well-earned break. 
• Medical appointments: Carers often put their own health last. Having free travel means they can get to GP or hospital appointments more easily, prioritising their own wellbeing. 
• Staying Connected and Active 
• Social activities: The pass has enabled Carers to meet friends, visit community hubs, and enjoy leisure time – vital for reducing isolation and boosting mental health. 
• Shopping & errands: Carers told us how useful the pass is for running everyday errands such as food shopping, collecting essentials, and managing household tasks. 
• Work and volunteering: For Carers seeking work, attending training, or volunteering, the pass is a lifeline. It helps them explore new opportunities without financial strain. 
  
  

We had contacted the 259 Carers that had the benefit of receiving the code and 81 responding and answered the following questions  

Did using the pass make your caring role easier? 100% Strongly Agreed or Agreed 

Did using the bus pass help reduce your stress? 98% Strongly Agreed or Agreed 

Did using the bus pass help you feel more connected to friends, family and community? 98% Strongly Agreed or Agreed. 

What Carers Told Us 

Carers highlighted that having a bus pass: 

• Reduces stress around travel costs. 
• Helps them feel more independent and in control. 
• Encourages them to prioritise their own wellbeing. 
• Makes it easier to take part in community life. 
  

Here are some of their words: 

“The bus pass has opened doors for me. I can take my mum to her appointments, go to my support group, and even meet a friend for coffee – things that make a huge difference to my mental health.” 

“The bus drivers are so helpful, and you often end up having a friendly chat with other passengers. It makes the journey less stressful and more enjoyable.” 

“You meet and speak to different people who share their daily life experiences. You hear different cultural ideas and learn what’s going on in the city – things you’d never know about if you weren’t out and about.” 

“It’s more than just transport – it makes me feel part of the community again.” 

“I gave up work to care for my mother. She has various health issues and the past three years have been particularly hard work with numerous hospital admissions. I am not in great shape; my joints make driving difficult for me at times so getting this bus pass is amazing and has made such a difference to me.” 

A special thank you to all the 81 Carers that took the time to send their feedback on the Bus Pass Service. And congratulations to the Carer that has received the £20 Gift Card your thoughts are important to us to create a service that’s right for you. 

Why This Matters 

Transport costs can be a real barrier for unpaid Carers. By removing this barrier, the free bus pass service ensures Carers and their families can access health care, stay socially connected, and take steps towards work or volunteering. The scheme is helping to create Carer Friendly Communities where Carers are recognised, valued, and supported.