NEW data has laid bare the dramatic number of people in Carlisle - from teens to people in their 90s - working long hours as a carer for no payment.

Figures from the 2021 census shows that there are 2,700 people in Carlisle working 50 hours or more every week as an unpaid carer.

Data from the Office for National Statistics shows a total of 9,221 people in Carlisle were looking after someone without being paid when the census was carried out in March 2021 – amounting to 8.6 per cent of the city's population.

Of those working 50 or more hours a week in Carlisle, 20 were children of school age (between ages 5 and 17) - ten boys and ten girls. 

A total 225 school age children were performing some form of unpaid duties of care. 

Carers Trust's CEO, Kirsty McHugh, said there is strong evidence that this is having a "detrimental impact to education, work and wellbeing" for youngsters. 

READ MORE: MP says city's development is heading in the right direction

At the other end of the age scale, there are 40 people aged 90 or above in the city working 50 hours or more unpaid - making up for almost 4 per cent of that age demographic in the area. 

The largest age group for those providing care for 50 hours or more falls to those aged between 70-74. 

A total of 295 people were working those hours, making up for 4.5 per cent of the age demographic. 

Of the 295, the role predominately fell to females making up for 155 of the count. 

Comparing data to the 2011 census, a similar picture is painted, with 2,640 people being identified to be working fifty hours or more. 

Although 8.6 per cent of Carlisle's population are now providing some form of care, this number has fallen from 11 per cent in the 2011 census.   

READ MORE: Cumbria’s 56,000 unpaid Carers could benefit from new Leave Bill

Worryingly however, Ms McHugh suggests that the true number across the country is much higher than the census data shows - with the pandemic likely skewing the new figures. 

"We believe that the true number of unpaid carers is far higher than the census suggests," she said.

"The fact it took place in the middle of a pandemic when many people were unable to visit those for whom they cared, alongside a change in the wording of the question framing, means that many people may not have identified themselves as unpaid carers. 

"What remains stark, however, is that there are millions of unpaid carers who need help from the UK Government, including support for their local carer organisations, more funded respite breaks and delivery of a long-promised national strategy for unpaid carers," she said.