Young carers from North Yorkshire pushed themselves to the limits on a rock-climbing and caving adventure with Carers’ Resource and the Experience Wild Ingleborough project.
The 19 young people, who all help to look after a parent, sibling or other relative, took part in activities to boost their confidence and give them a break away from caring.
Helen Prince, Head of Young Carers and Families at Carers’ Resource, said: “The young carers had a wonderful time and the instructors were fantastic – engaging, encouraging and professional.
“All of the young carers were supported to attempt the activities, achieving success at their own level and pace. There were plenty of big smiles when the young carers faced their fears such as climbing to the top of the rock or squeezing through a small space in the cave.
“The team work and comradery were amazing as all the young carers realised they needed to work together to keep each other safe when they were doing the activities.
“Everyone was exhausted at the end of the day and the trip was a great success.”
One young carer said: “I thought it was a great way to explore the outdoors and build confidence in ourselves to achieve challenges. I like how we did both rock climbing and caving as it let us experience both things.”
Another added: “’I enjoyed caving in particular. I liked the climbing but realised I was scared of heights. Overall it was a fantastic experience.”
A parent of one of the young carers said: “It is such a lovely thing to give them a break from the stresses of home life. They put up with so much having disabled parents so any break for them is good. He couldn’t believe how dark it was in the cave, he has told everyone about it.”
Another parent said: “He was so excited about going on the trip, he thoroughly enjoyed it and still keeps telling me about the things he did. These trips are amazing. They give him and other children experiences they’d never normally get. Also the break we get from each other helps us to appreciate each other more when we are back together.”
A young carer is someone aged 18 or under who helps look after a relative who has a condition, such as a disability, illness, mental health condition, or who misuse drugs or alcohol. Most young carers look after one of their parents or care for a brother or sister.
The Young Carers team at Carers’ Resource supports young carers in the Bradford, Harrogate, Craven and Selby districts, offering youth clubs, activities, trips and mentoring. For more information please visit youngcarersresource.org/
This project was funded by Wild Ingleborough, a multi-partner, landscape-scale conservation project creating a wilder future for this part of the Yorkshire Dales. The Experience Wild Ingleborough project is an access to nature fund that supports groups who experience barriers to accessing the countryside to enjoy visits to Ingleborough and the surrounding areas. For more information about Wild Ingleborough, please visit www.wildingleborough.com
Photos by Stephen Garnett for Carers’ Resource
