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Children as young as five are spending more time caring for a relative than they spend at school. Catharine Sadler reports on how nurses can identify and support young carers.

Yet further evidence has emerged of the huge number of young carers whose caring roles are not known to their school and who are therefore not receiving the support they need. Almost 500 young carers who were previously unknown to their schools were discovered during a project to offer young carers better recognition and support. The 35 schools taking part in the Young Carers in School programme reported a dramatic impact on the attendance, achievement and confidence of pupils who care for a loved one.

While the regulations allowing staff parental leave are quite specific, those governing other caring responsibilities are less clear. [Introduction]

The author describes a mobile library service in North Bedfordshire, which takes equipment to older people with dementia and also provides support for them and their carers. The equipment provided includes the areas of hobbies and leisure, reminiscence; arts and craft and sensory resources activities.

The article discusses the national award scheme called "Young Carers in Schools" programme launched by the Carers' Trust and Children's Society charities in October 2015 to help schools support students with caring responsibilities.

Caring for the Carers, is a course run by Brixham Community College's Adult and Community Learning Department in Devon for carers. This article provides an overview of the six week course which aims to give carers 'space for themselves' and covers aspects of healthy living, including relaxation, exercise, positive thinking, assertiveness and finding positive ways of meeting needs.

NHS teams should also make carers aware of statutory right to social services assessment and explain process. [Journal abstract]

Participants from 25 reminiscence projects involving people with dementia and their carers across Europe are to gather in Germany in June. They will bring with them some colourful luggage: wall hangings, embroidered cushions and major art works. Catherine Ross finds out why.

The author argues that more people with learning disabilities and their carers would opt for individual budgets if they were given better support to make them work. Two short case studies are presented where parents explain how individual budgets have proved successful for their sons, each of who have complex learning disabilities.

The National Strategy for Carers has raised the profile of carers needs, but does social services really treat carers as co-workers. The article looks at the impact of other initiatives, such as a Welfare to Work, and the way in which policy and practice may affect attitudes to carers.