Local Co-Operative Shoppers Make a Difference for Young Adult Carers
Following a successful funding bid, Carers Trust Cambridgeshire is launching a new project specifically targeted at Young Adult Carers aged 16-21 years within the Huntingdonshire and Fenland area.
The ‘Filling the Gap’ project launched on 18 March 2014 will support up to 50 Young Adult Carers to complete a year-long project that will target issues such as Education, Employment and Training, Confidence and Aspiration, Health and Well Being and Economic Well Being.
A unique feature of the project means we will be working with up to 10 families of Young Adult Carers to identify needs of families and signpost them to further support.
Two groups will be established within the Huntingdonshire and Fenland area. Access to the service will be for existing young carers who are 16 and currently supported by Carers Trust Cambridgeshire and referrals of new Young Adult Carers by external agencies.
The project has been made possible by funding from the Co-Operative who adopted Carers Trust as their Charity of the Year partner in 2013. The total raised so far is a staggering £5 million which will be used to support Young Adult Carers (14-25 years) across the country.
Local Co-operative branches, including food, pharmacies and banks, raised money from events such as fancy dress days, raffles, a sponsored cycle ride around Grafham Water and events on 24th July 2013; a date specifically chosen to represent that caring can be a 24/7 role for many.
Paul Slade, Area Operations Manager of Co-operative Food said
“It has been a lot of fun helping our friends at Carers Trust, raising just under £200,000 across the region with the company raising an amazing £5 million. We are proud of the support from our great customers and teams and pleased that the money raised will help so many great individuals who make such a different to many lives.”
A Carers Trust Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk spokesperson, said:
“This project is very unique and as an organisation, we are committed to supporting Young Adult Carers through very stressful times in their lives. At 16, the difficulties of making choices about education or employment are made more difficult due to the on-going carer roles and the project will endeavour to provide information and support to enable positive life choices to be made.”
For more information on the project or to make a referral please contact us on 01480 499090 or visit our website www.carerstrustcpn.org.
