PHOTOS: Highland Young Carers have fun in respite summer activities as well-deserved break
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Highland Young Carers enjoy a range of much–deserved breaks this summer with a fun–packed programme organised by charity Connecting Young Carers (CYC).
CYC made sure to give their members across Ross–shire, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, and Lochaber a break from their roles looking after loved ones with fun–filled activities and events.
CYC supports young and young adult carers aged 5–24 by providing them with respite opportunities, to have a break from their unpaid caring roles. When the school holidays arrive, the CYC team work hard to ensure that Young Carers have access to a variety of activities, to bring the group of young people together to build relationships with their peers, access new opportunities, and increase their confidence.
The service, part of Highland Community Care Forum, has the primary aim of ensuring young carers are seen, heard, and supported – and they certainly did that with the fantastic events they put on for the youngsters.
The summer programme started with a clay–making session with Lochaber–based Young Carer Community Worker, Sophie, where the group got stuck into the creative session and indulged their creative talents with T–shirt designing, hosted by Room 13 Studios, in Caol. The workshop gained star reviews from the young carers, with Kayleigh Boyd (12) rating the activity as five out of five.
In July, Young Carer Community workers Angelika and Justina met up with Young Carers from Inverness, Nairn and Ross–shire to go to Vue cinema in Inverness where they saw, Ruby Gillman Teenage Kracken follow by a tasty lunch at Burger King afterwards.
Young Carer Rosie Polson (12) rated the day highly and said she would attend again. She said: “I saw the trailer to this film and didn't think it would be good, but it was actually very funny! I've never had a Burger King before, so that was good too!”
Young Carers Service Manager Marina Finlayson said: “The CYC team have worked tirelessly to provide a variety of activities for the young and young adult carers registered with the service.
“They have provided transportation and food at the activities to ensure each young carer has the best experience possible. Thank you to everyone who came along, and to the team for organising each activity on the summer programme”.
"For any young carers across Highland not already registered with the CYC service, please visit our website, where you can access the referral form, and one of the team will be in touch!”
The young carers and young adult carers have also been kept busy with a range of activities such as: trampolining, soft play, a virtual reality ‘fun day’ held in Kinlochleven, go–karting, a visit to Blair Drummond Safari Park, creative writing sessions, and photography workshops.
And there’s more to come with Aban Outdoors running an activity with young carers aged 8+ on August 9 and 10, where they will be climbing and learning bushcraft.
Aban Outdoors are also running activities for young adult carers until September and are funding such things as canoeing, paddle–boarding and biking.
Connecting Carers’ chief executive officer Roisin Connolly, said: “It's wonderful to provide young carers with these breaks during the summer holidays. Not only does it give them a break from their caring role but it allows them first and foremost to be children and young people, enjoying themselves and creating memories.
"These breaks would not happen without the support of Lochaber Community Fundraising, Cairngorm Trust and Creative Breaks. A big thanks to all the funders and the CYC team for making these breaks happen.”
