It estimates there are around 375,000 young adults in the UK who step in when their families with care needs are left without adequate support.

Moira Fraser, interim Chief Executive of the Carers Trust said: “This research paints a gloomy picture.

It estimates there are around 375,000 young adults in the UK who step in when their families with care needs are left without adequate support.

Moira Fraser, interim Chief Executive of the Carers Trust said: “This research paints a gloomy picture.

“It shows young adult carers are experiencing difficulties in their education, employment prospects, health and socialisation.

“They are not being identified and supported so they face multiple barriers that will have a significant and lasting impact on their future.”

The survey also found young adult carers have higher rates of poor mental and physical health and rarely get the assessments they are entitled to.

Lauren Cooper, aged 13, cares for her grandparents, uncle and sometimes her disabled cousin.

She told Sky News: “Sometimes I can sit down and fall asleep, it is that busy and hectic.”

As part of its Time To Be Heard campaign, Carers Trust is calling on the Government to make sure the implementation of the Care Act 2014 and Children and Families Act 2014 is adequately funded and monitored.

It says this would be “an important step towards ensuring that young adult carers can put aside heavy caring responsibilities and instead put their energy into education, training and employment.”

Among its other demands is that the Government includes young adult carers in additional financial support programmes, such as Pupil Premium and the 16-19 Bursary Fund.

Another survey has found that grandparents and other family members raising relatives’ children face stigma and discrimination at the school gate.

Families, known as kinship carers, told charity Grandparents Plus they felt that they were treated differently by other parents, mistreated by social workers and teachers and the children they raised were bullied or excluded by others.

The charity is calling on the Government to support the UK’s estimated 200,000 kinship carers by guaranteeing they receive support, offering them the same rights as those who adopt and ensuring the welfare system does not “penalise” them.