Young carers across Gloucestershire will continue to receive dedicated support after Gloucestershire County Council awarded a new five-year contract to Gloucestershire Young Carers.
The contract will ensure specialist services remain in place to help young carers, young adult carers and their families across the county.
Currently there are1,450 young carers identified in Gloucestershire, who provide regular care and support to a family member living with disability, long-term illness, a mental health condition or addiction. Caring responsibilities can have a significant impact on a young person’s education, wellbeing, social life and future opportunities.
Following a competitive procurement process, Gloucestershire Young Carers has been selected to continue delivering the service, building on many years of experience supporting young carers and young adult carers across the county.
The service provides tailored support designed to help young carers balance their caring responsibilities with the opportunities every child and young person deserves. It supports young carers to build resilience, improve their emotional wellbeing, develop confidence and life skills, and access support through schools, communities and local services. Young people are also able to connect with others who understand the unique challenges they face.
Ensuring young carers can influence the services they and their families receive is an integral part of the contract and Gloucestershire Young Carers have proved their expertise in working with young carers to enable their voice to be heard locally, nationally and internationally.
Alongside direct support for young carers and young adult carers, the service will continue to work closely with schools, health partners, social care services, adult services, voluntary organisations and community groups to improve the identification of young carers and ensure they can access the right support at the right time.
Following support from Gloucestershire Young Carers, one young carer said: “Until you come to a respite group or an activity with other young carers, that’s when you realise ‘actually, what I do is different to other people.’ And you get a bit more understanding and acceptance of being a young carer.”
Councillor Ben Evans, Gloucestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Safeguarding and Early Years, said: “Young carers make an incredible contribution to their families, often taking on responsibilities that many people their age never experience. While they are providing invaluable support to loved ones, it is important that they are also able to enjoy their childhood, achieve their ambitions and make the most of every opportunity available to them.
“This continued investment will help ensure young carers across Gloucestershire receive the practical and emotional support they need. By supporting young carers, we are helping to improve their wellbeing, build their confidence and give them the best possible chance to thrive.”
For more information about the support available for young carers and young adult carers, visit the Gloucestershire Young Carers website.