“Young carers are children and young persons under 18 who provide, or intend to provide, care, assistance or support to another family member.  They carry out, often on a regular basis, significant or substantial caring tasks and assume a level of responsibility, which would usually be associated with an adult. The person receiving care is often a parent but can be a sibling, grandparent or other relative who is disabled, has some chronic illness, mental health problem or other condition connected with a need for care, support or supervision.”
“Factors which influence the extent and nature of young carers’ tasks and responsibilities include the illness/disability, family structure, gender, culture, religion, income, and the availability and quality of professional support and services.”

Becker, S. (2000) ‘Young Carers’, in Davies, M. (ed.) The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Social Work. Oxford:  Blackwell Publishers Ltd, p. 378.

'A young carer becomes vulnerable when the level of care-giving and responsibility to the person in need of care becomes excessive or inappropriate for that child, risking impacting on his or  physical well-being or educational
achievement and life chances'. 

Frank J & Mclarnon J. Key Principles of Practice for Young Carers and their Families. The Children’s Society 2008