Project to support young adult carers launches in Plymouth

A new project has been launched in Plymouth to provide support for young adult carers between the ages of 16 to 21.

The City Council currently commission the Plymouth Guild’s Carers Hub to provide free support and guidance to carers  over 18 years of age across the city and the new project, will be provided by the hub in partnership with Plymouth City Council Youth Services who provide a targeted Plymouth Young Carers Service for 8 – 19 year olds.

The project will provide a ‘safe space’ for young carers and young adult carers who are between 16 and 21 to access opportunities to discuss their role as young carers and help them to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Every young carer who accesses the service will have the opportunity to work on a one to one basis with a trained worker who can provide information and advice about being a young carer and the services available to them when approaching adulthood. Each session will have a planned healthy eating on a budget activity. To include meal planning, shopping, meal preparation and tips and hints on how to make interesting food that tastes good and has lots of health benefits. Arts and crafts and IT facilities will also be available.

Lee Sewrey (Carers Hub Manager) said: “We are really excited to be able to offer these sessions to Plymouth’s young carers, not only are we providing them with essential information to help them with their caring role we are also going to able to use the feedback to help develop future projects in our carers services. We will also support individuals to plan for their future and help them to source funding and things that they want or need in their life to ensure they have a life outside of caring.”

Councillor Sue McDonald, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said: “Our young carers are one of the most vulnerable groups of children and young people in Plymouth and we are absolutely committed to supporting them. To make sure we are providing the best support we can this project will help us consult both directly with young carers and professionals to find out what they would like a carers service to look like when they do make transitions into adults carers services.”

To enable as many young carers and young adult carers as possible to access the project bus fares will be reimbursed and all activities offered will be free of charge.

For more information contact the Carers Hub on 01752 201890 or email chp@plymouthguild.org.uk or download a referral form www.plymouthguild.org.uk/our-services/carers-hub-plymouth/ch-activities-...