YOUNG CARERS DEPARTMENT
We thought you might like to see some photos of our Young Carers
NEWS UPDATE On Friday 27th June 2008, Jillian, myself and four Young Carers Forum members, Nicole, Beth, Clare and Tiffany set off from Stoke station to YMCA Fairthorne Manor, Southampton for the 9th Young Carers Festival. Not only was this our first visit there, it was also our very first residential trip with Young Carers!
We were shown to our accommodation- 2 man tents and given the itinerary for the weekend. Friday afternoon was spent on the Tower Climb, Bouncy Pillow and watching the live bands. The evening started with songs around a very large campfire and was followed by a disco, which finished at midnight. Saturday started when Nicole woke us at 5.30am even though activities did not start until 8.30am! The girls got rather wet canoeing, then very muddy during the Blind Fold Team Challenge. We also signed up for the Low Ropes Team Challenge. Art and craft workshops were available for the not so active.
The Children's Minister, Kevin Brennan came and gave a speech and took questions from the Young Carers National Forum.
Saturday evening started at the river with the very first Festival Regatta and duck race. This was followed by fireworks and a disco. Sunday was a slightly later start 7.00am (thanks Nicole!) with plenty of activities to take part in. We were then treated to a production of "Extravaganza" written and produced by some Young Carers, followed by the closing ceremony.
We arrived back in Stoke at 7.00pm Sunday all feeling a bit grubby, and very, very tired. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this first Festival and we all look forward to many more in the future.
Gill Porter
Young Carer of the Year Award
The Young Carer of the Year award took place on 29th November 2008, at the Kings Hall in Stoke. 3 Young Carers were nominated and invited to attend the ceremony. The Young Carers enjoyed a 3 course meal and the awards. This year’s winners were Terri and Bobbi Stevens—Congratulations girls! Well done to Rhys Morgan and Dylan Bowers, who were also nominated for the award.
The Pudsey Project The Young Carers department are pleased to announce the start of a new project For Young Carers who are caring for a brother or sister. The project is in association with BBC Children in Need.
The Pudsey Project works within the City area and offers support to Young Carers between the ages of 5-18, who are caring for a sibling with an illness or a disability.
The project offers Young Carers support groups, individual support sessions, outings and activities. The project also offers Awareness Raising Sessions in schools.
If you are caring for a brother or a sister and think you may be a Young Carer you can call us on 01782 831619 for more information, or get a parent / guardian to call for you.
We are able to take referrals From all agencies and parents. All referrals must come with parental / guardian consent.
Referrals can be made by contacting 01782 831619
Christina Sanderson Award 2008
Candice Griffiths
Christina Sanderson Award WinnerThis Award is given out to Young Carers who are considered to have made an outstanding achievement over the past year. 2008's winner was Candice Griffths. Well Done Candice! Also well done to the 2 other YCs who were also nominated for this year's Award. Keep up the good work!
Hi from the new Young Carers Forum!
Currently this Group is aimed at Young Carers across the city, aged 11-19 years old. It consists of 3 members at the moment (Bobbi, Terri and Val) but we are hoping to increase this number to 8.
We secured the funding for the Forum from the Youth Opportunities Fund, based on an application that we had put together ourselves.
With this funding we have created a Young Carers Emergency Fund, which Young Carers will be able to apply for once a year. You may be able to secure up to £30 per person when you are experiencing difficult times, which may be used for essential items such as a bus pass, school clothes, college etc. If you would like to access this fund then you will need to print off the application form below and complete and return the appropriate section.
We are also planning to use some of this funding for Young Carers' Summer trips. This will mean Young Carers can enjoy a substantial, relaxing and fun day out. We have decided on three options for the summer trips. These are Drayton Manor Theme Park, Upper Limits (indoor climbing, indoor caving, problem solving, archery etc) or ice-skating. Hopefully there will be something for everyone. Please make your choice, print off the form and return the appropriate section.
Other pots of money are being put aside for training of Forum members and Young Carers, and a Young Carers' Conference.
We intend to take the Forum out to meet professionals in the City to make them aware of the issues of Young Carers. If you know of any professionals who would like to meet the Forum, ask them to get in touch with Gill or Ange on 01782 831619 who will take their details and pass them on to us.
We hope to hear from you all soon!
Regards,
The Young Carers Forum
"Passionate about supporting Young Carers" A Young Carer is a person under the age of 18 who is caring for, or helping to care for, someone who is ill, disabled, or misusing substances such as drugs or alcohol.
A Young Carer may be doing any number of tasks, including housework, shopping and cooking, as well as helping the person they care for take their medication, wash and bath.
Sometimes a Young Carer may get help - but often they are caring alone, without any support and without anyone knowing what they do.
If you are a Young Carer, the Young Carers Team may be able to help you.
The Young Carers Team works in partnership with many other agencies. We are able to take referrals from statutory and voluntary organisations, parents and Young Carers. All referrals must come with the parent, or guardian's, consent.
Young Carers and their families can contact the Young Carers Team on 01782 834836 to get help and support, or just for a chat.
All the support offered to Young Carers and their families is confidential and free of charge
YOUNG CARERS' STATISTICS
- North Staffs Young Carers Department work with over 530 Young Carers across North Staffordshire
- There are around 175,000 Young Carers in the UK. However, this is not taking into account the many unknown Young Carers across the UK.
- Due to the awareness raising sessions that are carried out in various Primary and High Schools across North Staffordshire, we are aware of 1,612 Young Carers.
- Chris Deardon and Saul Becker produced a 2004 report on "Young Carers in the UK" involving 6,178 Young Carers. Here are some of their findings:
- Average age of Young Carers is 12.
- 56% of the Young Carers involved were girls, 44% were boys.
- 56% of Young Carers are living in single parent families.
- 1 in 10 Young Carers is caring for more than one person.
- Two thirds of the Young Carers provide domestic help in the home.
- Emotional support is more common when the person who needs caring for has a mental health problem.
- 4 in 10 Young Carers caring for someone who misuses drugs or alcohol, have educational difficulties.
YOUNG CARERS' PROJECTS Statistics for the Mosaic Project
- There are an estimated 4,500-5,500 drug users in Staffordshire, of which 530 live in the Staffordshire Moorlands.
- The Government estimates that 2-3% of children are affected by parental substance misuse.
- Evidence suggests that the children of substance misusers are:
- more likely to be placed on the Child Protection Register
- more likely to be excluded from school
- more likely to move home or school frequently
- more likely to misuse substances themselves
- more likely to be at risk of offending
- less likely to seek help and support
Phoenix ProjectThis is the Project that Nikki works on and it runs in the City area of North Staffs. The Young Carers on this Project are aged between 5-18. As the funding for this Project is from Social Care, the Young Carers must be referred from the Social Care's Young Carers Assessment Worker. However, parents and professionals can also refer to Social Care for this Project. The Phoenix Project can work with a maximum of 44 Young Carers.
Whole Family ApproachThis is the Project that Gill works on, and it is used to support 15 Young Carers aged 5-13 who live in the City. These Young Carers are either fully responsible, or sharing the responsibility for, the care of parents who are experiencing mental ill health, and may also be affected by substance misuse. This Project also aims to support the parents as well as the Young Carers, helping them to have a positive impact on their child's lives. Amanda also now works on the Whole Family Approach Project with Gill.
TransitionDiane is the Transition Worker within the Young Carers Department. This involves mainly working with Young Carers aged between 14-18 years old, who are approaching the transition into adulthood. Some of the Young Carers in the Transition Project are not currently in school, as a result of their caring role. Therefore, Diane helps to get them back into education whether it be in school or college. Diane can work with up to 15 Young Carers at any one time. The Transition Project also runs Awareness Raising Sessions in High Schools and Colleges, across North Staffordshire.
WHO'S WHO There are many staff within the Young Carers Department. Here is a brief summary of Who's Who…
Gill Porter Young Carers Officer
Diane Cox Senior Transition Worker
Nikki Willis Senior Young Carer Worker (also works on the Phoenix Project)
Jillian Thelwell Senior Young Carer Worker (also works on the Mosaic Project)
Laura Boon Young Carers Group Leader
Holly Thursfield Young Carers Group Leader
Liz Nicholls Young Carers Group Leader
Zoe Walton Young Carers Group Leader
Becky Kelly Young Carers Group Leader
Carole Pritchard Young Carers Group Leader
Amanda Johnson Young Carers Worker
Maude Potter Young Carers Admin
Kayleigh Hand Playworker
Megan Walmsley Pitts Playworker
Jyoti Whicker Playworker
Nikki Melchionna Playworker
Emma Thompson Playworker
Ellen Kealey Playworker
CLUBS & GROUPS Evening Groups
The Young Carers Evening Groups are for the younger ones aged 5-8.
The Young Carers enjoy something to eat and also have the opportunity to play with other children. These groups are: Wild Katz, Funky Monkeys, Playsurfers and Pumpkins!
Saturday ClubsSaturday Clubs are for Young Carers aged 8-11.
These take place in various areas of the City, County and the Moorlands (e.g. Silverdale, Cheadle, Blurton). These clubs run for 3 hours and the Young Carers all have lunch together and get to do different things, such as arts and crafts or sports activities.
Saturday Groups Saturday Groups are for 11-14 year old Young Carers.
These Groups also take place in various locations throughout North Staffordshire, such as Leek, Bradwell, Blurton, and many more. Again, the Young Carers have some lunch together and can take part in sports, games, or arts and crafts. The Saturday Groups also run for 3 hours.
MacysThe Macys Evening Groups take place on a Thursday evening, from 6.30pm until 9pm. This group is for the older Young Carers aged 14-18. Young Carers can play pool, darts, games, and also have access to the Internet. Food and soft drinks are also supplied.
Young Carers are picked up and taken home again, for all of the Clubs and Groups. Also, food and drink are free of charge.
SCHOOL LIAISON PROJECT As part of the work the Young Carers Department carries out to support Young Carers, we are able to provide Awareness Raising Session in schools.
These sessions have been designed to highlight and raise awareness about the issues Young Carers face. We are able to provide two different, age-appropriate, awareness raising programmes, which can be carried out in Primary schools, High Schools and Colleges.
The sessions aim to help staff and pupils understand more about Young Carers and most importantly to help identify any Young Carers within the session, who might need help and support from the Young Carers' Department.
The Young Carers' Department is able to offer these sessions free of charge to schools and colleges. The sessions have been designed in such a way that schools are able to fit them into the PSHE or Citizenship curriculum.
The sessions we provide in colleges can also be used as a training resource for pupils who wish to pursue a career in Childcare, Health, or Social care.
We are also able to provide Awareness Raising Sessions for team meetings or training days.
If you would like any further information or want to book an Awareness Raising Session please contact the Young Carers Department.
Young Carers Resources These resources are available for Young Carers and any professionals who may work or come into contact with Young Carers to assist in identifying and providing support.
The Young Carers resource pack is full of useful information to assist Young Carers in their caring role.
Click the link below to download the information
Resource Pack
Primary School Questionnaire
Macys Questionnaire
Lifestyle Questionnaire
High School Questionnaire
Assessment Form
North Staffs Carers Association is a Company Limited by Guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Registered Number 3313461.
Registered Office: Unit 2, Burslem Enterprise Centre, Moorland Road, Burslem, Stoke on Trent, ST6 1JQ
Tel: 01782 834 836 (answerphone out of hours) Fax: 01782 831 610
North Staffs Carers Association is a registered charity. Charity number 1062548This web site is supported by funding from Staffordshire County Council and Stoke on Trent City Council.
