On Young Carers Action Day, Kent Community Foundation announces it has awarded over £500,000 to support Young Carers in Kent and Medway
Young Carers Action Day raises awareness of the challenges faced by young carers and campaigns for greater support for them. Since 2001 Kent Community Foundation has supported over 18,000 young carers across Kent and Medway with grants totalling £502,885.
Josephine McCartney, Chief Executive, Kent Community Foundation, said. “There are over 10,000 Young Carers in Kent and Medway and worryingly, according to research, there could be another 30,000 young people who are caring for their family who remain hidden. Kent Community Foundation is proud to help these important members of our community and on Young Carers Action Day we wanted to highlight just three of the organisations we have funded regularly, who work with these children and to give them the support they really need.”
Dover smART Project was founded in 2013 to provide opportunities for disadvantaged children in Dover, including young carers, to take part in a wide range of creative activities and experiences to boost their confidence, enhance their well-being, raise their aspirations, and widen their outlook on the world.
Laura Graham, Chief Executive, Dover smART Project, said “The support of Kent Community Foundation has meant we have been able to provide creative support and opportunities to many young carers living in the Dover district. From running employment courses with a twist to more recently providing every child with ‘A Creative Care Package’ throughout the pandemic. Keeping them connected to us at this time of exacerbated loneliness and isolation and helping them with their well-being”
Crossroads Care Kent offers a range of support, information, advice, and guidance to young carers who are trying to juggle their caring responsibilities with family life, schoolwork, making time for friends and looking after themselves.
Jan Hall, Young Carers Project Manager, Crossroads Care Kent, said, “This funding has enabled us to continue supporting young carers throughout one of the most difficult times any of us has experienced. We’ve been able to move physical activities online, deliver activity packs, care packages, and ensure that none of our young carers have had to go through lockdown alone. We thank Kent Community Foundation for their continued support and acknowledgement of the vital work we do in supporting young carers”
Imago delivers a service called Kent Young Carers to support young people who are responsible for caring for a parent or family member who has a disability, mental health issue or substance abuse problem. Kent Young Carers aims to reduce social isolation, increase confidence and self-esteem through 1:1 support, schoolwork, respite, activities, family support and forum days.
Jon Weller, Director of Development, Imago, said, “The continued support and funding we receive through the Ivy and Jane Charitable Fund and Kent Community Foundation for young carers in Kent has proven invaluable this year in enabling Imago to provide much needed respite activities. More than ever, with all the uncertainty, additional anxieties and pressures experienced by young carers and their families during the pandemic; the opportunity for some respite, to meet with other young carers, to take part in fun activities, to simply have a break, has been a real boost for their wellbeing and so well received by these amazing young people, and those they care for.”
If you would like to help Kent Community Foundation support good causes across Kent and Medway you can donate by visiting www.kentcf.org.uk/give/donate
