A few months ago read an article in a about child carers. Example of one family, 13 and 10 year old siblings, caring for their parents both on incapacity benefit. Both parent in wheelchairs, one due to MS the other either illness or accident.

And the 17 year old helping with her sister's daily needs (wheelchair bound with cerebral palsy), and now doing all care for sister and Mum when Mum was struck with MS. Another 2 wheelchair family.

As at the 2001 census -

"There are over 175,000 young people in the UK caring for someone with a physical or learning disability, illness or substance dependency. Some 13,000 are providing more than 50 hours of help a week. There are problems with the way these figures are constructed. The stats show 85% of all young carers provide 1-19 hours of care a week to a disabled, frail or chronically ill person. This lack of detail masks some important issues. There is a massive difference between caring for a disabled sibling for a couple of hours a week and being the sole carer for a single parent with severe mental illness. The impact of home situations can differ greatly from carer to carer.
Caring is also considered a hidden problem. Many young people don't see themselves as carers or consider seeking help when they find it hard to cope with the situation. Many younger carers of school age also fail to seek help when their situation makes them a target for bullies."


Now Gentle... you go tell them they must move to slums and that they have to make do on the income and support their parents receive from the government, post cuts.

I maintain that it will be the most needful who will suffer the most, especially under this government.