CELEBRATING YOUNG CARERS FOR YCAD 2026
Across the UK, there are estimated to be more than one million young carers – children and young people who help look after a family member with illness, disability, mental health challenges or addiction. Alongside school and friendships, many take on responsibilities at home that can affect their wellbeing, confidence and opportunities to take part in everyday activities.
Young Carers Action Day (YCAD) shines a spotlight on these young people and the challenges they face. This year’s theme, “Fair Futures for Young Carers,” calls for greater recognition and support so that young carers can access the same opportunities as their peers.
To mark the day, Create brought together young carers from across the UK for a special Creative Showcase on Wednesday 11 March 2026. Through a series of creative workshops, young carers explored drama, music, painting, puppetry and textiles – sharing their ideas, stories and talents through art.
A platform for creativity and self-expression
In the lead-up to the showcase, Create’s professional artists worked with young carers during February half-term workshops delivered in partnership with:
- Brent Carers Centre
- Bury Young Carers
- Carers Trust Hillingdon & Ealing
- Enfield Carers Centre
- Sutton Carers Centre
Across these sessions, participants experimented with a range of artforms including drama, music, painting, puppetry and textiles, creating work inspired by the theme Fair Futures for Young Carers.
The online showcase offered young carers the opportunity to present their work and celebrate their creativity with family members, supporters and partners from across the country.
Why creative breaks matter
Young carers often struggle to balance their caring responsibilities with time for themselves. Research shows that young carers miss an average of 23 days of school every year, and many spend several hours each day caring for loved ones. These pressures can have long-term consequences: less than half of young carers leave school with five GCSE passes including English and Maths, highlighting the urgent need to ensure young carers have fair access to opportunities and support.
Creative activities can provide a vital space for respite – allowing young carers to relax, build friendships and express emotions that can be difficult to put into words.
“If we want to make a real difference in the lives of young carers in ways that build their skills, confidence and wellbeing, increasing their access to the creative arts should be a top priority. As a society, we must recognise creativity not as an optional extra, but as a vital part of holistic support for vulnerable young people. This YCAD and beyond, let’s work to ensure that every young carer can experience the transformative power of the creative arts.”
Nicky Goulder MBE, Founding CEO of Create
Through Create’s workshops, participants are encouraged to explore new artforms, collaborate with their peers and discover their own creative voices. Just as importantly, they are given time to step away from their caring roles and focus on themselves.
One young carer shared:
“It’s a chance for people to see what I am capable of.”
Celebrating young carers’ voices
The Young Carers Action Day showcase highlights not only the creativity of the young people involved, but also their resilience, imagination and individuality.
By providing opportunities like this, Create aims to ensure that young carers are recognised, supported and given the space to develop their talents and aspirations.
Their creativity reminds us that when young carers are given the chance to step back from responsibility and explore their potential, they can thrive.
Thank you to John Lyon’s Charity, The John Thaw Foundation, National Lottery Community Fund, Society of the Holy Child Jesus CIO, and Wates Foundation for funding these projects.
Watch the showcase
