Children in Need Awards £30,000 Grant to Young Carers Support Group

A grant from Children in Need has been awarded to a charity dedicated to assisting young carers throughout a specific county. Northamptonshire Carers is set to receive nearly £30,000 from the BBC’s Children in Need charity, disbursed over a three-year period. This funding is designated to employ a part-time staff member whose role will involve organizing and conducting specialized activities for young carers, offering them breaks and chances for social engagement. Cat Hemmington, a sessional worker at Northamptonshire Carers, commented that the financial support from Children in Need is “incredibly valuable.” Northamptonshire Carers estimates that a minimum of 70,000 individuals serve as carers within the county, although the true number is probably considerably greater. Lily, an 11-year-old, assists in caring for her mother, who lives with fibromyalgia and degenerative disc disease. Lily stated that she “enjoys” participating in young carer groups, where she connects with peers facing comparable circumstances. Lucinda Buckley, a senior young carer worker at Northamptonshire Carers, underscored the significance of these support groups. She remarked: “A lot of our young carers can feel quite isolated due to circumstances at home. “Bringing them together with peers in the same position provides a vital sense of connection and support.”I have five year olds who are potentially doing housework or helping out with their families. They can have a lot of responsibility.” Ms. Hemmington further stated: “It’s really important for young carers to experience fun things and get a break.” Over 8,000 children have benefited from local initiatives that received support from £2.3 million in funding provided by Children in Need. For further Northamptonshire news, updates are available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites and provides information on its approach to external linking.