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Young Carers Update - March 2004
a report by Wilma Philpot - Yong Cares
Development Worker
Since you last heard from me a large chunk of my time has been spent with the young people themselves. I am working with two Young Carers' Groups, a senior group and a junior group. The senior group meets every Tuesday night and there are six Young Carers aged 14 and 15. I work alongside Tracy Waddle who is a Senior Community Education Worker who worked with the Young Carers Group last year. This group is going well and we have planned a programme, which includes all their ideas and thoughts. Some examples from the programme for this group have included, megazone, ceramic painting, make mocktails (non alcoholic cocktails) and looking at situations Young Carers are left in. This group has been running a lot longer than the junior group.
The junior group consisting of nine young people meets every Monday night. Nicola Davis Jenkins and Ian Tripney, both from the Youth Strategy Team, work alongside me with this group. This group has only met three times and the young people are aged 11-13. So far all we have done is try to consolidate the group, plan the programme and get some of their ideas of things they would like to do - and we are off to Laser Quest tonight!
Both groups are very different but we will run a three week rolling programme of (week 1) doing activities such as games and arts and crafts, (week 2) looking at issues around being a young carer and (week 3), go out on a trip.
I am also supporting four young people on a smaller scale. Two of whom I meet on a one to one basis and the other two I work with them in a paired setting. All of this work is going very well and the young people are benefiting from these sessions. Not only do we meet and go out to take part in fun activities, but I give the Young Carers an opportunity to discuss their difficulties and the issues they experience and they have chance to escape from these pressures.
The Forum is not going very well and unfortunately for us, (but not so unfortunate for Barry) we are about to lose the Chairperson for the Forum. Barry has gotten himself a part time job and will be stepping down. He will no longer be able to commit his time to the Young Carers due to school and work commitments. Barry has been a great support to myself, to the Forum and the Partnership for a long time and I would like to wish him all the best for his future and thank him very much for all his help and support! Good luck Barry and we will be in touch and keep you updated. I will also make sure you get a copy of the newsletter each quarter!
That's about all the face-to-face work I do, as I have been very busy building up the service for Young Carers since starting in August. At present we are working and supporting nineteen Young Carers and hearing about more Young Carers as time goes by! Watch this space grow and look out for Young Carers next instalment. With a bit of luck we might have some photos for the next one!
Cheers for now
Wilma
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