Executive summary
Newcastle has over 1,900 young adult carers aged between 16 and 25 (Census 2011, Office for National Statistics). They look after friends and relatives with long-term illnesses, disabilities, mental ill health and addiction. They are unpaid. They are mostly girls. They typically work between one and 19 hours a week as a carer. Some work more than 50 hours. Most of them don't even recognise themselves as carers and therefore don't reach out for help until they are at breaking point. Newcastle Carers wants to stop that.
Newcastle Carers is an independent charity that supports adults, children and...