17-year-old Ava-Grace balances college and caring for dad
17-year-old Ava-Grace Britton cares for her stroke-surviving father in north London, highlighting the hidden reality of young carers in the UK.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Ava-Grace Britton, 17, is one of many young carers across England and Wales.
- Her father, Paul, suffers from mobility and memory issues following strokes and diabetes.
- The Carers Trust estimates up to 1 million children under 18 act as young carers.
- Young carers face significantly higher risks of educational disruption and bullying.
Ava-Grace Britton is 17 years old and studies acting at a college located in north London. She enjoys going out, seeing her friends, and aims to attend university next year. However, unlike most of her peers, she also takes on the responsibility of caring for her father, Paul, who experiences severe mobility and memory difficulties after suffering a series of strokes eight years ago.
Alongside her mother, Karen, Ava-Grace monitors Paul's blood glucose levels, administers medication, and assists with dinner preparation and household chores. Paul's strokes were triggered by a sepsis infection contracted from cutting his thumb at work, and his health is further complicated by diabetes that requires careful management. His condition forced him to quit his job as a borehole engineer, leaving full-time care duties to Ava-Grace and Karen, who also runs a charity organizing lunch clubs for elderly and vulnerable people.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Her caring responsibilities have forced Ava-Grace to make numerous trade-offs over the years. She noted that she once deeply enjoyed dancing and could have started competing professionally, but the enormous time commitment made it impossible. Furthermore, she had to switch schools multiple times after facing bullying and struggling with attendance due to her caring duties and her own management of epilepsy.
Official census figures indicate there are approximately 130,000 carers under 18 in England and Wales, but the actual number is believed to be much higher as many remain hidden from view. The Carers Trust estimates there could be as many as 1 million carers under 18, alongside another 500,000 aged 18 to 25. While more than half of these young individuals support parents, others look after siblings and grandparents amidst rising living costs and parental work pressures.
"It turned our life upside down."
Karen, mother of Ava-Grace
The phenomenon of young carers highlights systemic challenges within health and social care services. When parents face chronic illness or economic pressures, children often absorb adult responsibilities, impacting their academic futures and psychological well-being. Policymakers are increasingly pressured to implement targeted grants, enhanced school support, and better cross-sector coordination between health and education authorities.
Department for Education data shows that young carers are 25 percent less likely to achieve five GCSE passes, including English and mathematics, compared to their peers. Consequently, they are twice as likely to remain out of education, employment, or training for two years or more. Andy McGowan from the Carers Trust points out that while local council assessments can help, it often takes years for these young individuals to be identified, and support remains patchy depending on location.
In July, the government published an action plan for unpaid carers, outlining measures to improve school support and joined-up services across the NHS, social care, and education sectors. A government spokesperson stated a firm commitment to building a system recognizing the extraordinary contributions of unpaid carers. For families like the Brittons, enhanced assistance and greater public understanding cannot arrive soon enough.
Source: BBC Health
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