Young Carers Shine at the 2024 Young Carers Festival in Wales

A group of dedicated young carers from our community recently had the opportunity to attend the annual Young Carers Festival 2024, held in Llanelwedd at the Royal Welsh Showground. The event, which took place over the weekend, brought together young carers from across Wales for a celebration of their hard work and resilience. Although the festival included camping for several groups, our attendees participated on August 21st as day visitors, allowing them to experience the highlights of the event while returning home the same day.

A Day of Fun, Learning, and Connection

Despite attending for just one day, the experience was packed with engaging activities, workshops, and entertainment tailored to meet the needs of young carers. From outdoor challenges to creative arts sessions, the festival provided our young carers with a much-needed break and the chance to be around others who share similar life experiences.

Empowering Young Carers

In addition to the activities, the festival included informative sessions aimed at empowering young carers and giving them a voice. Workshops focused on mental health, self-care, and practical skills were a key part of the event. Although our group’s time at the festival was brief, they still took part in discussions about the challenges they face and what support they need. Topics such as better access to mental health resources and improved respite services were emphasised.

Building Connections and Community

The festival was more than just a break from daily responsibilities — it was an opportunity to connect with others who understand the unique challenges of being a young carer. While our group couldn’t stay overnight, the bonds they formed and the shared sense of community left a lasting impression.
Youth worker Michael, who accompanied the group, remarked, “Even though we could only attend for a day, the young carers had an amazing time. It’s important for them to know they’re not alone and that there’s a whole community of people who understand what they’re going through. Events like this help build their confidence and show them how much they’re valued.”

Looking Forward

The 2024 Young Carers Festival may have only been a single day for our group, but its impact will be long-lasting. The attendees returned home with new friendships, positive memories, and a renewed sense of belonging. Our community is proud of these young carers and appreciates the support that events like this provide.

As the role of young carers continues to be recognised, the festival highlighted the ongoing need for increased resources and better support. While our young carers face many challenges, their determination and strength were evident at this year’s festival, reminding us of the importance of continuing to champion their needs and celebrate their contributions.

Breaking Barriers: Young Carers Discover Academic Potential in themselves

Over the summer holidays, a group of Young Carers participated in a residential experience at Swansea University, organised by Reaching Wider. The program aimed to provide these young carers with a taste of university life and an opportunity to explore various academic and recreational activities, as well as giving the Young Carers a well-deserved break from their caring roles.

Objectives:

Provide Young Carers with a first hand experience of university life, including staying in student halls.
Introduce young carers to a variety of academic disciplines and potential career paths.
Foster a sense of well-being and community among Young Carers.
Offer a break from their caring responsibilities and allow them to engage in fun, educational, and creative activities.

Activities

During their stay at Swansea University, the Young Carers participated in a wide range of activities that were both educational and recreational:

Occupational Therapy Workshop: This session allowed the Young Carers to learn about the field of occupational therapy, understand its importance, and engage in practical demonstrations.
Zoology Exploration: An interactive session where the carers could explore different aspects of zoology, learning about animal biology, habitats, and conservation efforts.
Paramedics Experience: This activity provided insight into the life and duties of a paramedic. Participants learned about emergency response techniques and the importance of first aid skills.
Bowling: A recreational activity that promoted team-building and fun. It was a great way for the carers to relax and bond with each other.
Creative Activity: This included arts and crafts, encouraging self-expression and creativity. It also served as a therapeutic activity to relieve stress.
Well-being Sessions: Various sessions focused on mental health, relaxation techniques, and strategies to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Feedback

‘I just would like to say I was really scared of going on my own and I didn’t know if I wanted to go but I did and I am glad I did because it was absolutely brilliant, and I can I just say the staff were excellent. My favourite activity we did was the paramedics I never thought I would love something so much in my life the whole experience was amazing I would love to go again’

‘I thoroughly enjoyed the experience at Swansea university as it opened up more interests for me and allowed me to have a lot of fun with my friends, I would love to go again as it was a great opportunity to experience new things.’

Hi my name’s faith I went on the Swansea university residential I enjoyed the experience and am looking forward to go to university in the future it was a break from day to day life and I’ve learnt many things such as university isn’t like school as you can make your schedule to suite you and as a young carer is very helpful. The University is a safe secure place and I felt I could speak to the staff members comfortably if needed. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would like to go again.

Hi my name is Katie-Ann I went on a Swansea university and I enjoined the experience of all of the different choices of the things you can do at Swansea University. The thing I enjoyed the most is was when we did the paramedics I would really like to go to a university.

Lacey said She really enjoyed the residential stay away as she made more friends. Lacey said she enjoyed the paramedic and OT session. Bowling was fun and she enjoyed going to Nines in the evening as we have been in the day before. Felt spoilt with all the free goodies.

I thoroughly enjoyed the young carers trip to Swansea University. Even though I didn’t stay overnight I attended the 2 days and loved every activity I did in them both. My favourite part was the paramedics session, I gained a lot of helpful information from this lesson. I enjoyed with all of the other young cares especially going bowling and going to nines. I want to say thank you to everybody that made them days so special to me and I enjoyed every minute of them. Diolch x