Black, Asian and minority ethnic young carers

Key statistics

• young carers are 1.5 times more likely to be from ethnic minority communities
• under 20% of the young carers supported by Barnardo’s are from ethnic minority backgrounds
• approximately 7% of all young people in England have a caring role for a family member.

Key messages

• Black, Asian and minority ethnic young carers experience cultural barriers when accessing support services
• lack of cultural sensitivity within services limits engagement and uptake of support
• many young carers from South Asian communities are unaware of available services
• cultural norms, expectations and fear of stigma contribute to under-reporting of caring roles
• the report calls for targeted approaches, including increased funding, cultural competency training and more inclusive services.

Policy implications

• services supporting young carers may need more targeted and culturally appropriate outreach
• workforce training should address cultural competence and awareness
• funding models may need to recognise the additional barriers faced by Black, Asian and minority ethnic young carers
• service design should aim to improve visibility and recognition of caring roles.

Gaps

• limited evidence on how structural and socio-economic factors interact with cultural barriers
• lack of longitudinal data on outcomes for Black, Asian and minority ethnic young carers
• limited evaluation of the impact of targeted or culturally adapted interventions.

Commentary
This report highlights clear inequities in access to support for Black, Asian and minority ethnic young carers. Although young carers from ethnic minority communities are more likely to have caring responsibilities, they are under-represented within formal support services, suggesting unmet need and barriers to access.

Cultural factors play a central role in shaping these inequities. Lack of awareness of services, concerns about stigma and expectations around family responsibility contribute to under-reporting of caring roles, reducing opportunities for assessment and support.

The evidence points to the importance of targeted and culturally competent approaches. Without services that reflect cultural context and address awareness and trust, existing systems risk continuing to exclude some young carers.

However, the report provides limited insight into wider structural drivers, such as poverty or policy design, that may further compound disadvantage. From a care equity perspective, addressing both cultural and structural barriers is likely to be necessary to improve access, experience and outcomes for Black, Asian and minority ethnic young carers.