Welcome for Children's Commissioner report on the difficulties experienced by young carers in Wales

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 10th Jun 2009

Eleanor Burnham AM, was delighted to offer her support to Keith Towler, the Children's Commissioner for Wales, who launched "Full of Care" in the Senedd today, a report about, and written by, young carers from Wales.

Launched at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay as part of a three-day celebration to mark the

achievements of Wales' carers, Full of Care is the culmination of ambitious nationwide research young carers on behalf of the Children's Commissioner for Wales.

The project team, led by young carers, gathered the views and opinions from nineteen of Wales' 22 young carers projects to identify the main barriers young carers face when it comes to realising their rights set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), including their right to education, to relax and play and to have their views respected.

The key findings of the report include:

37% of young carers felt that their opinions were not respected by others

52% felt they couldn't cope during the last week

73% of those who administered medication had never received any training

Eleanor Burnham said " I am concerned that many young carers, who make up more than two percent of all children in Wales under the age of 16, are not able to enjoy their rights under the UNCRC. I believe the Children's Commissioner has done a valuable job to give these young people a voice and the report has highlighted that the Welsh Assembly Government needs to act urgently to improve the situation for young carers throughout Wales.