Tag: Care
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Briefing Note on Young People’s Experiences and Views of ‘NEET’ as a Category
Katherine E. Smith, Anna Gkiouleka, Katharine Timpson | Equalise Briefing Note on Young People’s Experiences and Views of ‘NEET’ as a Category |DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20138207
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Do parenting programmes improve mental wellbeing for families?
This study tested whether a group‑based parenting programme could improve wellbeing for families living in disadvantaged and ethnically diverse areas in England. Parents who took part in the programme reported better mental wellbeing both immediately after it ended and six months later, compared with those who were on a waiting list. The programme was delivered…
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Can a PhD change policy? Lessons from inside government
This blog article reflects on a PhD student’s three‑month placement with the UK government’s Open Innovation Team and what it taught them about turning academic research into real policy action. It highlights how policy work moves quickly, values clear and impartial communication, and depends on understanding political and practical context as well as evidence. The…
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How does being a young carer affect school attendance and achievement?
Young carers in England are already falling behind at school, and the gap continues to widen as they get older. This study shows that by the end of primary school, young carers are more likely to underperform academically, and by the end of secondary school they achieve fewer qualifications and are more likely to miss…
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Unpaid work – the missing link in the gender gap
Unpaid work such as housework and caring plays a major but often overlooked role in shaping gender inequality, work opportunities, and health. Women continue to do far more unpaid work than men, which affects their employment, pay, mental health, and long‑term wellbeing, especially at key life stages like parenthood, lockdowns during COVID‑19, and when caring…
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Early years: improving support for children and parents – policy response
The Equalise Care theme submitted written evidence to the Education Committee Inquiry on Early years: improving support for children and parents on 10th October 2025. Executive summary The response was prepared by the Equalise Care theme with contributions from: We would be pleased to speak further about our response. Please contact Enrico Pfeifer (enrico.pfeifer@ucl.ac.uk).
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How does a carer’s relationship with their care recipient affect mental health?
Caring for others, especially close family members, can affect mental health, but research hasn’t always looked closely at how different caregiving relationships matter. This study found that people who care for spouses or parents, especially women caring for someone in their own household, tend to experience more symptoms of depression. These effects can last over…
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New indicators to analyse how social roles relate to health
Researchers used data from the ALSPAC study to track six key adult roles, across education, employment, and parenthood, among people aged 16 to 31. They developed a method to reliably measure whether someone was in or out of each role each year of the analysed period. The patterns they found, such as when people left…
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Do caring responsibilities limit young people’s chances of educational success after 16?
Young carers face significant disadvantages in post‑16 education in England. By the end of secondary education, they achieve fewer qualifications overall and are much less likely to meet key benchmarks such as gaining three or more A‑levels or equivalent qualifications. Importantly, these gaps persist even after accounting for socioeconomic background, showing that caring responsibilities themselves…
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How does young caring influence educational attainment?
Young carers face serious educational disadvantages that begin in primary school and continue through secondary education. By the end of secondary school, young carers achieve fewer GCSEs overall, are less likely to reach key benchmarks, and are less likely to gain top grades than their non‑carer peers. These gaps appear early: at primary school age,…
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How does becoming a young carer affect health and wellbeing?
Young people who take on caring responsibilities often experience lower wellbeing, but it’s unclear when these changes begin or how long they last. This study found that young carers already had slightly lower life satisfaction two years before they started caring, and this continued for at least three years after. The impact was greater for…
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What’s the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young carers?
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more young people in the UK have taken on caring roles, rising from 8% to nearly 12%. These young carers are more likely to live in single-parent, low-income households and deprived areas. There’s also been an increase in high-intensity caring, especially among girls. Most care is still provided to parents. The…