All aboard - a new initiative to support Devon’s Young Carers

Devon Young Carers at Westbank has launched a new initiative to support young people who care for family members. Called the Young Carers Movement Group, it gives young carers a platform to share their views on the support service provided by Westbank Community Health and Care, as well as suggest improvements, and highlight additional support young carers would like to see in the future. The new group also provides a safe space to talk openly about the challenges and experiences of growing up as a young carer. 

As a thank you for their valuable time and input, Devon Young Carers recently organised a special activity day for group members, taking six young carers to Haven Banks in Exeter for a fun day of raft building. After being kitted out with buoyancy aids and helmets, the group worked together to construct a raft large enough to carry them all.  They demonstrated fantastic teamwork and skill sharing, carefully tying knots and securing barrels and planks. With anticipation, they launched the raft into the water – and to everyone’s delight, it floated.

The group successfully sailed the raft down the Exeter Canal and back again, without anyone falling in. Over lunch, the group was joined by representatives from the Devon County Council Post 16 Learning Participation Team, who introduced their new service dedicated to careers support for young carers. They engaged with the group to gather feedback on what young carers would like from a careers’ advisor, how they would prefer to meet, and what approaches would work best. The young carers shared some excellent ideas, which will help shape what promises to be a really valuable service.

The day was rounded off with a visit to Exeter’s Escape Room, where the youngsters successfully escaped from two rooms with an impressive amount of time to spare.  

Paddy Agnew, the Service Manager for Devon Young Carers, said, “It was a truly fantastic day, filled with teamwork, laughter, and thoughtful conversations. A huge thank you to our young carers for being such an inspiring group whose ideas and contributions continue to make a real difference. The Young Carers Movement Group is about young carers feeling heard and empowered. With a mix of online meetings and a yearly activity to bond further, have fun, grow their confidence and enhance their teamwork and other life skills. Together, we make change happen.”

One of the young carers who took part was 17-year-old Kaytie from Dawlish, whose mum said,"Kaytie had an amazing time at the YC movement workshop. She chatted non-stop about it and showed me the pictures. She loved the raft building and all the escape rooms. She loved every minute. Kaytie said the experience has taught her that ‘there is no I or me in team, only us’.”

  Another participant, 17-year-old Josh from Cullompton said, “It was fun, I did enjoy the raft building to be honest, although it was a bit scary because it felt like I was going to join the Titanic.”