Throughout this year’s Carers Week, which takes place from Monday 11 to Sunday 17 June, we are raising awareness of young carers in Worcestershire, highlighting the work that young carers do and helping them, along with their families, to access appropriate support.

The theme for this year’s Carers Week surrounds helping carers to stay healthy and connected. Throughout the week YSS Worcestershire Young Carers keyworkers will deliver tailored information and support at the young carers youth clubs to highlight the importance of self-care. The clubs will also include the opportunity for young carers to take part in dance and karate lessons, as well as healthy eating activities like making smoothies and fruit juices. 

As well as themed activities, on Monday 11 June keyworkers will join forces with Worcestershire Association of Carers (WAC) to raise awareness of the impact of caring amongst carers and professionals. The ‘You said, we did’ NHS event, held from 2-4pm at Perdiswell Young People’s Community Centre, will be joined by staff from YSS Worcestershire Young Carers at a table top stand to raise awareness of the impact of caring on children and young people.

To highlight the support that is available through Worcestershire Young Carers, Education Link Worker David King will deliver school assemblies throughout the week at Pershore High School, and will also hold an information stand with help from young carers Lucy O’Brien, Amy Davis and Josh Jefferies. Staff and pupils at the school can talk to David about the support that is on offer, whilst games and activities, including making stress balls, will help to raise awareness of some of the difficulties that young carers face. Lucy, Amy and Josh will also share their experiences of what it’s like to be a young carer.

David will also meet with the Women’s Institute on Tuesday evening, to share information about Carers Week and the support that is on offer through Worcestershire Young Carers at YSS.

Lorraine Preece, Chief Executive at YSS, said: “We are looking forward to raising as much awareness as possible throughout this year’s Carers Week. It’s a great opportunity to reach more children, young people and their families who might need our help.

“In Worcestershire there are around 420 officially identified young carers, although this is likely to be the tip of the iceberg as many who provide unpaid care for someone who is physically or mentally unwell or disabled are not known to local services. The 2011 census showed that 3,490 young people in Worcestershire recognised themselves as having a caring role. Many of these young people miss out on vital services and support to which they are entitled.

“Our keyworkers will be out and about all week chatting to young carers, families, school pupils and professionals, and it’s great to see this national campaign coming to life thanks to the thousands of individuals and organisations who come together to organise activities and events throughout the UK, drawing attention to just how important caring is.”

If you’d like to organise your own event or activity to help raise awareness or funds this Carers Week, please click here to set up a fundraising page.

Be sure to keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter pages throughout the week for the latest news and updates as well as information about how you can get involved. Just click the links below to like and follow our pages:

Official YSS Facebook
Official YSS Twitter
Worcestershire Young Carers Facebook
Worcestershire Young Carers Twitter

If you’d like to find out more about Worcestershire Young Carers at YSS, please click here.