Media invited to Young Carers Celebration and Launch of Film About their Lives
Thursday 26 January 6.00-6.30pm, Performing Arts Centre, Hinchingbrooke School, Huntingdon
Carers Trust Cambridgeshire is celebrating Young Carers Awareness Day on Thursday, 26 January by launching a film featuring evocative stories of young carers lives dating back 18 years entitled, The Story so far.
The inspirational stories of unpaid young carers past and present have been created as a timeline to showcase their journey spanning the last 18 years when support for young carers first became available in Cambridgeshire.
Funding for the The Story So Far came from a £10,000 Big Lottery Celebrate Fund awarded to the Young Carer and Young Adult Carer teams at Carers Trust Cambridgeshire last autumn; it is one of three projects planned with the funding to celebrate their local community.
Family, healthcare professionals and supporters have been invited to the film’s special viewing at a celebratory event at the Performing Arts Centre, Hinchingbrooke School between 6-8pm.
Tania Bingham, Young Carers Policy and Development Officer, said: “The film aims to captures the stories of young over the past 18 years, from across Cambridgeshire, celebrating their aspirations and achievements. It was a unique opportunity for young carers to reflect on their time spent as a young carer. We are incredibly excited to be in touch with individuals who engaged with the service over 10 years ago as a young carer and to hear their moving stories, both past and present.”
Carers Trust Cambridgeshire supports over 400 Young Carers and Young Adult Carers in Huntingdonshire from aged 8 to 25. There are 700,000 young carers in the UK who work around the clock providing care and support family and friends. It is estimated there are more than 2,000 young carers aged 5-25 in the Eastern region – as many as two pupils in each class – and identifying them early is vital to provide them with support to safeguard their wellbeing.
* Not sure if you are a young carer or not? Do any of the following apply to you?
- Have a relative, including siblings, who are disabled, ill or injured, meaning that you have to care extra for them?
- Do chores for a relative, such as cleaning, because they are unable to?
- Live with a relative who misuses substances?
- Live with a relative who has issues with their emotional well being?
- Struggle to attend school or college regularly?
- Help look after someone which means that you can’t spend time with your friends or get your homework done?
Our projects enable young carers and young adult carers to meet other young people in similar caring roles and have fun away from their responsibilities. Activities and support includes:
- Regular groups
- Day trips
- Focus days and activities such as healthy eating and drama or photography workshops
- Residential trips away from home
- School groups and support within Further Education establishments
- 1:1 support if needed
- Transition planning and Carers’ Star Outcome support
- Online support
Notes to Editors:
For further enquiries, please contact Tania Bingham, Young Carers Policy and Officer on 01480 499090.
