*These kids saves a lot of money for NHS. They should have some money for their job, at least a sum every month to encourage them, acknowledging thst their help is very important! And letting them be able to DO or buy something fun when they have some free time! Telling them that they are heroes bla bla bla really doesn't do sh1t and it's so easy to say. Professional carers that would be needed if these kids wasn't around to help their relatives is expensive for NHS to hire. We are talking about millions and millions. Shame on you Britain.*

Had to do a few jobs around the house but when you watch this video you relise how lucky we are to have a parent who makes dinner every night and who does all the washing a

These kids break my heart but at the same time what wonderful, caring people the seem to be. Hopefully after the first documentary "Aged 12, and Looking After The Family", showed DHS that more was needed for these kids. The boy who takes care of his 4 autistic brothers was truly inspirational. That boy is an old soul and a special soul. Nothing against the other kids but his was the story that showed him interacting with his family. The patients he shows with is brothers was real, not for the cameras. Bless them all.

It's beautiful to see how great these young children are but sad at the same Time cause they can't be regular children with a normal childhood

The USA would NEVER allow a program like this due to child labor laws and protecting vulnerable, powerless children. Kids belong in school and they need to socialize and need to be psychologically healthy and just be kids! Not nursemaids or minimum wage slave labor for the NHS. This is so warped like a Charles Dickens novel. 35 hours required per week to get £65?? And that's not even guaranteed. This needs to be brought to the attention of the United Nations to Protect the rights of the Children of the World. It's wrong wrong wrong. I'm shocked. 6-17 yos are asked to do chores that adult home health aides should be doing.

It's always hard to not isolate myself from my close friends with younger healthy parents. Seeing them not appreciate the life and parents they have just makes being social difficult. Ive been caring for my elderly mum since I was 14. (Now 19) I still have selfish thoughts that I had to push down but I know I should be here. But at least she's mobile, and can voice her concerns, and of sound mind. Seeing other (and younger) teen's struggles makes me feel less alone.

I agree I no myself from experience and I'm 43 it's not easy for me I have zero money and taking care of my dad and it's hard.iv taking care of my family for years when they get sick it's hard.iv only known my dad for 6 years he was absent in my life.

I'm part of young cares in Brighton

I would NEVER allow my child to care for me. Not even if I was limbless.

What a inspiring story. I thought it wasnt fair that I has

these kids need 100% support with cleaning,school and relief for them to have time for living.the familes need constant evaluations to assess that they are not being used by parents that could be doing more

i was a young carer to my 2 younger siblings. my mother has serious mental issues and she had a 4 year depression where she never left her bed.

As an American I'm appalled at this program. What does this do to the childhoods of these kids who cannot simply go home and be kids, they cannot have normal playtimes or go outside in the sunshine to play healthy sports or do things - like have violin lessons or just play with their peers to become socialized normally... these kids are more likely to be bullied and they do seem ashamed to play with kids from homes where children are not forced to labor as mini adults. They become withdrawn and secretive and their self esteem disappears along with any hope of a normal childhood. The negative stigma is bound to affect these voiceless souls. Here's an excerpt fron the UK Govt website to explain this appalling program: "A young carer is someone aged 18 or under who helps look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem. If you're a young carer, you probably look after one of your parents, or care for a brother or sister. You may do extra jobs in and around the home, such as cooking, cleaning, or helping someone to get dressed and move around. You may also give a lot of physical help to a brother or sister who is disabled or ill. Along with doing things to help your brother or sister, you may be giving them and your parents emotional support too." So....why is this allowed? Is it the NHS wanting to save money by creating a.work force of 6 to 18 year olds? A child should NEVER have to care for an alcoholic or drug addicted parent let alone run the house. Children are not mentally equipped to deal with adult problems. Is this the twilight zone or what? Omg.

I dont now if I count as a young carer or not. My mum is visually impared and has depression. I help her with cooking when my dad isnt in and I do a lot of the reading for her (wich has helped with my (mild) dyslexia) and also If she cant get out of bed I get her her meds and make her food and I get things she asks for. If we go out I guide her arownd and also I help with online shoping. This isnt a thing that makes my everyday life really hard. I just help a bit more than the normal 13 year old. I do a few other things for my dad and my nan but not really that much.

Please explain this to me. I'm an American...How does the government know that these kids are carers? Are they registered? Do they get paid? Is it legal? I think it's normal for an older kid to "help out", I'm old now but my sister and I took care of my brothers after school so my parents could both work but this seems different, these kids seem to be caring for their parents and younger siblings because the parents are disabled. I was watching one of these shows yesterday where the parents were both blind, they had 2 girls that were maybe 9 and 14 and they had to take care of a whole bunch of younger kids because mom kept shooting out babies, it was their dream to have this huge family to care for them when they got old but the Government was paying for all of this, it makes no sense to me and these parents didn't see anything wrong with what they were doing.My brother is disabled, he's got congestive heart failure, is on dialysis, his diabetes became so out of control that he lost his eye site and a foot, he's got 2 daughters but they aren't expected to give up their lives to care for him, he's in an assisted care apartment (he pays a third of his social security for it) and he has care takers that come in everyday to clean, give him his meds, help him clean up and cook for him. And my brother didn't live his life on benefits, that didn't happen till he got too sick to work and it was a long process to prove he qualified... This really isn't the responsibility of young children.

What i want to know is why the parents of the boys don't take more responsibility for their children. I know it's hard work i have 2 severly autistic children myself and so has my sister which is why we didn't have any more. It's obviously a genetic link but i would still not expect an older sibling (they have a half sister with the same dad) to take responsibility for them. She used to ask when they were younger before diagnosed if she could take them out but i wouldn't as she was about 12/13 and need to be at least 16.

My mum has diabetes a very bad back to the point it can take an hour to get her out of bed and tmj and I have to look after my 1 year old brother so o guess I can say im a young carer

Do I class as young carer my dad has fibromyalgia, authoritus, depression, anxiety, hip problems and his fibromyalgia affects his memory he can effect his memory forgetting where, why and who people are he cant be left alone put side the house he has to have naps and he gets separation anxiety from me and my mum he can't always put his shoes on or tie them so I do that. I help with the shopping and cleaning xx with my mum as well abd remind him to take hos 20 plus pills for his conditions including diabetes and he also as machine to help him breathe a night because he jas sleep apina Mum says she classes his carer and so do I but its just. Omes natural to me .

This would be illegal in the US

I am a young carer my mum has epilepsy