15.11.13
Thousands of young people providing unpaid care
The GMB union has warned that 442,934 people under 25 provide unpaid care every week in England and Wales.
This comprises 7.6% of all people providing unpaid care and 2.6% of all young people under 25. In London, 71,958 young people are providing unpaid care each week.
The GMB said these young people have already been hit particularly hard by the recession and the cuts.
Kamaljeet Jandu, national equality and inclusion officer at GMB, said: “They are an essential part of the 'glue' that maintains social solidarity across the generations. This cuts across the picture that we have of today’s young people and the extent to which we rely on them.
“Unfortunately it is this very generation that has borne the brunt of the recession now underway for six years.
“They were denied education maintenance grants, they faced a tripling of tuition fees, rising house prices and a lack of affordable housing, and where they have been able to find work they face low wages and zero hour contracts.
“This all has an adverse impact on the health, future employment opportunities and social and leisure activities of those young carers providing unpaid care.”
The GMB data is drawn from the 2011 census.
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