Caring Lives: What do young people with caring responsibilities for family members need to thrive?

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My PhD studied why the impacts of caring vary for different children and young people depending on their individual lives. Young carers research has focused on those who access young carer projects due to having substantial responsibilities, and I was keen to study the wider young carer spectrum, in order to better understand the positive and negative effects:My main findings included:- Young carers who feel in control of their roles are often able to manage their responsibilities alongside their education and social lives. Threats to this control include excessive responsibilities, unstable roles and regular medical tasks.- Support from family members, community and services can help young carers who have less control over their roles. The relationship between the young carer and the care receiver is particularly important.- Research with all young carers is vital to understanding the difference between manageable responsibilities and problematic care. Working with the wider spectrum can also informed support that is tiered to meet the needs of the whole group.- Young carer policy and awareness raising currently reflects the minority of young carers with substantial responsibilities. Policy and messaging that is reflective of the wider group can reduce stigma and privacy among young carers and their families.My fellowship will enable me to publish multiple articles from my PhD and to build a track record as a mixed methods researcher. My findings have the potential to affect policy and practice and I will organise a national young carers event, in addition to presenting to and meeting with key groups in Wales and the wider UK. In addition I will access training and develop funding bids for further young carers research.