A report examined the financial circumstances of young carers in Scotland, and the impact of caring responsibilities on their opportunities in education, social development, and emotional well-being. It said that young carers and young adult carers experienced significant emotional and financial strain as a result of their caring responsibilities, did not have sufficient support and financial assistance during the transition from childhood to adulthood, and felt that their opportunities were limited by their caring responsibilities.
Source: A Costly Youth: The impact of caring on young people in Scotland, Scottish Youth Parliament
Date: 2014-Sep
An article examined teenage pregnancy and parenting policies in the United Kingdom. Drawing on a study with pregnant young women and mothers in an alternative educational setting, it said that the mothers and staff there held complex attitudes towards government strategy, parenting interventions, and ideas about 'good' motherhood. The article argued that parenting education should have regard to structural inequalities and difficulties, rather than focusing solely on behaviour change.
Source: Naomi Rudoe, 'Becoming a young mother: teenage pregnancy and parenting policy', Critical Social Policy, Volume 34 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jul
An article examined the effectiveness of parenting interventions for male young offenders who were fathers, drawing on a systematic search of the literature.
Source: Katie Buston, Alison Parkes, Hilary Thomson, Danny Wight, and Candida Fenton, 'Parenting interventions for male young offenders: a review of the evidence on what works', Journal of Adolescence, Volume 35 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jul
A report examined the experiences and perceptions of young adult carers who were in further and higher education, including those at sixth form college. It said that many young adult carers went on to college or university but experienced considerable difficulties (such as lateness or absence, balancing their responsibilities, and a high prevalence of self-reported mental health problems), and many considered dropping out because of their caring role. The report said that over three quarters of the young adult carers in this study had communicated their caring role to their college or university, but nearly half (45 per cent) still felt that no one there recognized them as a carer and helped them. Outside of the education setting, the report said only a minority had received a formal assessment of their needs in their caring roles and almost one-third (30 per cent) reported that their family was not receiving good services and support. The report concluded that young adult carers required support in order to be able to participate fully in education, and that colleges and universities needed to improve their response for carers.
Source: Joe Sempik and Saul Becker, Young Adult Carers at College and University, Carers Trust
Links: Report | Carers Trust press release
Date: 2014-Jun
A report examined the experiences and perceptions of young adult carers. It said that in 2011 there were over 375,000 young adult carers (aged 14-25) in the United Kingdom who were providing support and assistance to families and friends. It said that a survey of 77 young adult carers who had left school and were either in work, or were not in education, employment, or training, had found a range of difficulties, including that: 45 per cent reported that their own physical health was 'just OK' or 'poor', and over half reported having a mental health problem; over half (54 per cent) felt that they would have got better grades at school if it was not for their caring role; of the 38 respondents who had been to college or university, 11 had dropped out because of their caring role; employment choices, and ability to build a good attendance record, were restricted by their caring role, and employers were not always supportive; and there was evidence to suggest that many more would be eligible to claim benefits (or more benefits) than were already doing.
Source: Joe Sempik and Saul Becker, Young Adult Carers and Employment, Carers Trust
Links: Report | Carers Trust press release
Date: 2014-May
The Care Act 2014 was given Royal assent. The Act provided for a range of measures regarding health and social care, including: a cap on the cost of social care in England; the legal right of carers to support from their local council; provision for local authorities to assess the care and support needs of children, and young carers, who might need support after they reach the age of 18, to facilitate the transition to adult social care; entitlements to personal care budgets and provisions for deferred payments for care; a rating system for hospitals and care homes, and new powers of intervention to the chief inspector of hospitals; and the creation of two new public bodies, Health Education England and the Health Research Authority, designed to provide additional training and support for health professionals.
Source: Care Act 2014, Department of Health, TSO
Links: Act | Explanatory notes | Explanatory notes | Minister's speech | NHF briefing | Inside Housing report
Date: 2014-May
A report examined the characteristics, circumstances, and experiences of first-time mothers in Scotland aged under 20, examining how they compared with those of older mothers. The report said that the data re-confirmed that this younger group faced significant socio-economic disadvantage in terms of lower educational qualifications, employment levels, and income, but that they were also affected in other ways, such as having less stable partner relationships, poorer health behaviours and health outcomes, and lower levels of engagement with formal parenting support. It said that these inequalities might be addressed through additional support, including wider access to affordable childcare, to help young parents (including those in their early 20s) to continue their education or training, or to enter employment.
Source: Paul Bradshaw, Lauren Schofield, and Linda Maynard, The Experiences of Mothers Aged Under 20: Analysis of data from the Growing Up in Scotland study, Scottish Government
Links: Report | Summary | Scottish Government press release
Date: 2014-Feb
The Scottish Government began consultation on proposals to identify, assess, and support carers and young carers in Scotland. The consultation would close on 16 April 2014.
Source: Carers Legislation: Consultation on proposals, Scottish Government
Links: Consultation document | Scottish Government press release
Date: 2014-Jan