MPs are launching an inquiry to investigate why young adult carers are being locked out of entering higher education, employment and training.

Launched today to coincide with Carers Week (9-15 June), the inquiry will look at what the government needs to do to ensure young adult carers have the same opportunities as their peers. It will also consider what, colleges, universities, training providers and employers can do to help remove some of the obstacles young adult carers face.

It will also examine the role of the voluntary sector, statutory bodies and local authorities in improving employment opportunities for these carers.

The inquiry will be held by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers and supported by charity Carers Trust.

It follows on from the APPG’s work in the last Parliament, when it held the first-ever parliamentary inquiry into how young and young adult carers’ life chances are affected by their caring role. That inquiry revealed there was an effect on their education, wellbeing and future prospects.

Young adult carers are 38% less likely to achieve a university degree than their peers without a caring role, the inquiry found. They are also less likely to be employed than their peers.

Research released by City St George’s University of London, and University College London this month showed young carers are 62% less likely to achieve the equivalent of three A-levels than their classmates. 

The parliamentary inquiry will be led by APPG chair Chris Vince MP and APPG vice-chair Alison Bennett MP, with two young adult carers co-chairing. A panel of carers aged 16 to 25 will act as youth advisors to the inquiry.

Farzana, a young adult carer co-chair from Oldham, said: “I’m hopeful that our inquiry will lead to changes in policy which will allow for young and young adult carers to receive better support in education and in accessing employment and training. That’s also why it is essential for young and young adult carers to get involved in our inquiry. Young people’s lived experiences bring such valuable insight and that’s key to making informed change.”

The inquiry starts with an online call for evidence. Oral hearings will follow with a final report due to be launched in Parliament in January.

Vince said: “As a former teacher, I have seen first-hand the impact being a young carer can have on their educational outcomes. I have seen some incredibly supportive schools, but I know that this support is not consistent, and I hope this report will better understand the educational impact on being a young carer.”

Bennett added: “Young and young adult carers deserve to have the same opportunities as their friends to go onto university, start professional training or enter employment, but for far too many this is simply not possible. Collectively we all need to do much more to remove the significant barriers these young people face so that they can go on and achieve their full potential as they begin their adult lives. I am proud to be part of this inquiry which will help provide us and the government with some of the answers as to how we can achieve this.”

Andy McGowan, policy and practice manager for young and young adult carers at Carers Trust, commented: “The last APPG inquiry clearly demonstrated the huge impact that caring can have on access to education and employment opportunities for young adult carers. The government will not achieve its aim of every young person having access to education, training and employment opportunities if it does not proactively think about the barriers young adult carers face. This important and timely inquiry will shine further light on not only those challenges but also what can be done to remove them.”