Young Carers

Some young carers do lots to help someone in their family to get up, to get washed and dressed or to get around in wheelchair. Some young carers do lots of the household chores like shopping, cleaning, cooking - and maybe look after younger brothers and sisters as well.

Some young carers stay in the house a lot to be there for someone who finds it difficult to be alone. They might get very down or misuse drugs/alcohol.

Do you do some of these things?

• Help someone in your family to wash, dress, eat, drink etc.
• Cook meals
• Do the housework
• Do the shopping
• Give emotional support
• Look after brothers or sisters
• get fed up because doing the things that you would like to do is really difficult because of your parent or brother or sister who is disabled
• give tablets and medicine

Whatever you do to look after the person in your family who has an illness, disability or drug/alcohol problem, The Fun and Freedom Club can offer you:

• Fun!  weekend clubs, days out,  trips away etc
• Someone who will listen when you need it and who is on your side.
• Information and advice for the whole family. If the person you look after can find more help or benefits, that might mean more free time for you!
• Choices. It’s their job to help you make choices, not to make them for you!

Some of the things we can help with are:-

• talk about your situation
• offer you one-to-one support sessions
• help you to access groups and activities that may be available in your own area
• Provide groups for you to meet with other young carers and to explore the issues that affect you. You will build confidence, have fun and learn new ways to handle difficult situations.
• talk to your school about some of the problems you have that might be affecting your day at school.

We organise all sorts of activities and trips such as bowling, toboganing and skiing, abseiling, gorge walking, pottery, horse riding, water sports and activity weekends at The Calvert Trust which is an residential outdoor activity centre.

We also develop new projects working in partnership with other organisations.  In 2011 we ran a 7 month programme with the National Trust called Woodland Adventure.  We are also running an Animation project with the Art College in Plymouth (started September 2011 - through 2012).

Monthly club meetings are held on the first Saturday of the month.  These allow you time to meet other young carers, have some fun away from your caring role and so we can hear about the type of support and activities that you would like and to give you some support and help with any worries or problems that you have.  We have a range of games and fun activities to enjoy at these meetings. 

^{All meetings are held at Virginia House Centre 10.30am to 12.30pm.}