Children and young people in Huntingdonshire who are the primary carers for family members are benefitting from a £30,000 grant from brethren across the Province. The cheque was presented at St Ives Young Carers group on the 16th of May 2018.
WBro Gerry Crawford (PAGDC and Provincial Grand Charity Steward) making the presentation with WBro Francis Margôt (PAGDC and Group Officer), WBro Ged Dempsey (PAGDC and Group Officer), and WBro Simon Perry (Local Communication Officer)
The money will make all the difference to the young people that attend the groups. They rely on the groups for some time to be themselves, to talk, to know they will be listened to and to give them some breathing space. Carers Trust Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk ensure it makes a difference to young carers by providing a wide range of activities for them including regular groups, forums and trips away from home. As well as helping with their caring responsibilities, there is a focus on supporting educational, emotional, health and wellbeing.
In the UK, there are an estimated 700,000 young carers. In 2016 Carers Trust Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk supported almost 1,500 young carers and currently support 320 young carers in Huntingdonshire.
Young carers are at risk of falling behind at school due to their caring responsibilities. One in twenty miss school because of their caring role and 26 per cent of young carers have been bullied because they are a carer. Their caring responsibilities can affect their health including mental health, social life and self-confidence.
Young Carers carry out a wide variety of tasks on a daily basis that are usually the responsibility of adults, for example, personal, emotional and practical support for their loved ones. Josie, 12, and her brother, Jamie, 10, of St Ives, are two young carers supported by Carers Trust Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk. They help care for their siblings, Amelie and Phoebe, who are triplets with Jamie and severely disabled. They help feed their sisters and assist their parents on family outings and with day-to-day tasks.
The grant from Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends from across England and Wales, and is part of a pledge to provide £2m of support over six years.
Miriam Martin, CEO for the charity said,
I am overwhelmed. The money will mean that we can continue to provide Young Carers groups like this as they rely entirely on charitable donations. We are thrilled to receive such an outstanding grant from the Freemasons. Over the next three years it will enable us to young carers that are having a hard time, who need a break from their caring role to spend time with other young people in similar situations where they can feel safe and valued and be themselves.
The Provincial Grand Charity Steward, WBro Gerry Crawford PAGDC, said,
We're very pleased to be able to help Carers Trust Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk who support some of the most vulnerable people in our community. They really make a difference to those young people who give up so much of their childhood to care for their loved ones.
The cheque has come at a great time for the charity as it approaches its annual free event to be held for the first in Peterborough on 13th June. The event will be an opportunity for carers, employers and supporters to come together, to have a chat, to take part in workshops, perhaps to learn something new and to recognise all family carers in the region for their outstanding work with Pride in Our Carers Awards. There will also be awards for schools, employers and organisations that support carers in different ways.
As well as being a celebration, it is intended that the whole day raises awareness about the impact of caring and that there is support, advice and practical help available for those who need it and don't know where to find it.
