City celebrates its young carers on national day of action

Wolverhampton is marking Young Carers Action Day today (Wednesday 11 March, 2026) by celebrating the vital caring role many children and young people in the city play.

A young carer is anyone under 18 who helps care for a relative, friend or loved one, and, according to the 2021 census, some 900 children and young people in Wolverhampton saw themselves as young carers. The City of Wolverhampton Council has an active relationship with over 300 of them and would like to reach out to more.

To mark Young Carers Action Day, the council will be at St Regis CE Academy, Tettenhall, to highlight the important role of young carers to teaching staff, and to encourage young carers to get help and support. The school has received the Young Carers in Schools Award, recognising its good practice and ability to meet the needs of young carers.

And young carers are also being invited to enter a poetry competition being held by the council. To take part, they should write a poem on the theme of 'What it means to be a young carer'. Entries should be sent to wolverhamptonyoungcarers@wolverhampton.gov.uk by 1 June, 2026. The poems will be showcased and celebrated, with prizes up for grabs for the winning entries.

Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: "We should be very proud of our young carers, all of whom are willingly giving their time to look after someone else, perhaps because they have physical or learning disability or because they are struggling with mental issues or substance misuse.

"In many cases, young carers often take on practical or emotional caring responsibilities that would normally only be expected of grown-ups, and this can leave them feeling isolated and unsupported and like they are missing out on their childhood.

"Clearly it is an incredibly challenging role for young people to take on and, as we mark Young Carers Action Day 2026, I'd encourage young carers and their families to speak to the council for any help and support they need."

To find out more, call 01902 553409, email wolverhamptonyoungcarers@wolverhampton.gov.uk or visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/carers.  

The theme of Young Carers Action Day 2026 is ‘Fair Futures for Young Carers’, a call to ensure every young carer has the same chances to learn grow and thrive as their peers.