Young carers remain invisible in many environments

The guidelines Minimum Standards for Supporting Young Carers and Child Participation offer a broader European perspective on the situation of young carers, the barriers they face, and define minimum standards for supporting their participation in society.

Young carers remain invisible in many environments
Although they are in contact with various institutions (e.g. schools, healthcare providers, social services, and other support systems), their roles are often not recognized, and they therefore do not receive adequate support. At the EU level and in most of the countries analysed, they are not clearly defined as a distinct group of children with specific needs and rights. As a result, they lack appropriate access to support, information, and participation opportunities.

Children’s and young people’s participation is often merely consultative and symbolic
Researchers highlight that presence is not the same as participation: a young person may be physically present in a meeting or process, but this does not mean they feel heard or that their views have any impact. This distinction reflects one of the key differences between symbolic and meaningful participation.

Young carers face multiple systemic, institutional, and personal barriers to participation
These often include lack of time due to caregiving responsibilities, limited information about support services, fear of disclosing family circumstances, stigma, low self-confidence, and a lack of child-friendly information and complaint mechanisms. Many young people also do not identify themselves as young carers, which further contributes to their invisibility within systems that could otherwise support them.

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Photo: Eurocarers, 2023