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Young carers campaign calls for business and community support

A CAMPAIGN is calling for recognition and support for the thousands of inspiring young carers in north and mid-Wales.

Credu has appealed for businesses, schools, colleges, universities, and communities across the region to help shine a light on the dedication and commitment of more than 2,400 young carers in Wrexham, Conwy, Denbighshire, Powys, and Ceredigion.

Ahead of Young Carers Action Day on Wednesday March 13 - organised by Carers Trust – they are pushing for more organisations to recognise bilingual resources including an identity card offering discounts, fast-track and incentives to young people with unpaid caring responsibility for a family member or loved one, often for up to 50 hours a week on top of their work or studies.

This latest appeal, entitled Fair Futures for Young Carers, also wants education settings to demonstrate more empathy and understanding of the challenges they face and come up with solutions to alleviate pressure and create a positive learning environment.

Young Carers Coordinator Sally Duckers said Bangor University is a role model for other institutions, having invited young adult carers to attend a residential taster while recognising the barriers they face in accessing higher education, given they are traditionally likely to be living in areas of high deprivation, compared to their peers.

“Young carers are consistently telling us they wish their schools would understand them better, which is disheartening,” said Sally.

“Credu has been working on a programme of resources to address that, which includes free bilingual lesson plans aimed at key stages two and three that follow the Welsh curriculum and new promotion of the Young Carers ID card, which invites support from our communities.

“Some businesses and attractions are already on board, but we would like it to be more noticed and prevalent in the communities we work in. We hope others will offer that support to the young carers given the economic and social obstacles they often face.”

She added: “To have the support of Bangor University and other educators is vital, as it gives them something to strive for, a pathway to their future careers.

“Statistics from UCAS revealed young carers tend to apply to universities within 30 minutes of their home, so having FE and HE providers in North Wales showing so much support and understanding is key – we are really thankful for that.”

Lowrian Williams, Widening Participation Officer for UK Recruitment and Admissions at Bangor University, said the institution is “dedicated” to supporting young carers in Wales and pleased to support the campaign.

“A highlight for us is our annual Young Carers Residential, happening every Easter,” said Lowrian.

“With support from our partners at Reaching Wider North and Mid Wales Partnership, we invite young carers from all over Wales, and during their stay on campus, they experience a taste of university life, connect with our friendly staff and students, and take part in workshops and academic talks. 

“It's not just a break from caring; it's a chance for them to focus on their own goals and aspirations and we look forward to welcoming them again this Easter.”

She added: “Young carers bring a unique and enriching perspective to our university student community. Their resilience, compassion, and diverse life experiences contribute greatly to the academic community and beyond.”

Eve Lambrick, a Raising Awareness Coordinator with Credu, hopes to see more people become ‘Champions’ for young carers to ensure they do not miss out on activities, adventures, or job opportunities because of a lack of transport, lack of finances or lack of social connections.

“We hear many inspiring stories where some positive support in a timely way has led to young carers being able to flourish and develop skills after being given a platform to succeed,” she added.

“We would love to see businesses especially identify opportunities for young carers, to give them a voice and opportunities they might never have thought were possible.

“That’s the community we are looking to build so they have all the transferable skills, maturity and resilience needed to thrive – that will give them a fair future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin James Williams .