Be Proud of your caring role and the incredible support you provide to your loved ones – that is the message Carers’ Resource wants young carers to remember this Young Carers Action Day (YCAD).
YCAD takes place on March 13 and is organised each year by national charity Carers Trust to raise awareness of young carers and young adult carers, the challenges they face and the support they need.
Carers’ Resource supports young carers across Bradford, Harrogate, Craven and Selby areas, and has interviewed several of them to create a video that will be launched on YCAD. They spoke about why they are proud of their caring role, as well as their caring responsibilities, and some of the challenges they face.
Young carers help to look after someone because they have an illness or a disability, they experience poor mental health or they misuse alcohol or drugs.
Sophia Newton, 17, who helps look after her mum, said: “Before I was with the Carers’ Resource young carers service it was difficult to manage. It was confusing, it was stressful, I didn’t know why my life was how it was. And then when I was referred to the young carers service, it all started to kind of make sense and everything fell into place a bit.
“At first it felt like a burden, but eventually, the more I’ve been with the young carers service, it’s not always been easy but it is something to be proud of, to appreciate and to be grateful for because it gives me a lot more experience for the life ahead.
“I’m going into the big wide world soon and without being a young carer I wouldn’t have had a clue how I’d have managed it. I wouldn’t have the independence that I have being a young carer.”
Carers’ Resource also arranged for Bradford young carers to record a radio show with BCB Radio, talking about their caring responsibilities and why they are proud of what they do. This show will be broadcast on YCAD.
The charity is also organising an art project that will align with Carers Trust’s theme for YCAD this year of “Fair futures for young carers”. Participants from across Bradford, Craven, Harrogate and Selby will all be showcasing their creative talents by producing artwork in the form of paintings, photographs, drawings and quotes they have written, capturing their dreams and aspirations for the future. These will be exhibited in local libraries and council buildings during Carers Week in June.
In addition, the charity is planning a celebration during its Selby and Keighley based youth clubs, which take place on YCAD, and at the other clubs running that week.
Helen Prince, Head of Young Carers and Families at Carers’ Resource, said: “Young Carers Action Day is a great opportunity to focus on the amazing things young carers do every day of the year. We are looking forward to putting the spotlight on them, helping them to be proud to be a young carer and inspiring them to think about the futures they want and deserve.”
Carers’ Resource provides a range of support to help young carers living in Bradford, Harrogate, Selby and Craven districts, including fun trips and activities in school holidays, youth clubs and one-to-one support. The service is designed to support their wellbeing and resilience, and to help them achieve their potential as successful, happy adults.
If you are a carer, or you know of a carer, please visit www.carersresource.org where you can find lots of information, and request further support – or call 0808 50 15 939 to speak to an adviser.
