MORE than 1,500 young carers will converge on the YMCA Fairthorne Manor at Curdridge on Friday for the largest gathering of young carers in the world.
They will have a chance to let their hair down, meet others in the same situation and discuss their biggest concern education.
The Children's Society and YMCA Fairthorne Manor are calling on teachers to ensure that young carers have the same access to a full education and career choices as their peers.
Thirteen per cent of primary school young carers and 28 per cent of secondary school young carers have some form of educational difficulty.
Alarmingly, a large number of them have said that they do not receive the support and understanding they require.
The theme for this year's Young Carers' festival is Care to learn? Learn to Care! and focuses on support for young carers and professionals in the school environment.
Jenny Frank, programme manager at The Children's Society, said: "We want to support schools and colleges to take responsibility to identify young carers at an early stage and ensure that they have the same access to a full education and career choices as their peers."
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