This campaign has now closed

We urgently need your support to raise funds for our Willow Young Carers Project, so that we can help children in Leeds who are missing out on their childhood because they are caring for a sick or disabled relative. Every £25 we raise will provide a young carer with one hour of direct support – with every hour making a real difference to that young carer’s life. It may be an hour spent by a Willow session worker to help a young carer deal with problems at school or an hour devoted to preparing and running one of Willow’s holiday or afterschool activities.

100%
Categories

  • Human Rights/Advocacy Human Rights/​Advocacy
  • Beneficiaries

    • Children (3-18) Children (3-18)
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)

    Situation

    Lisa is 12 years old, but can’t do things other children in Year 7 are doing, like going ice skating, having a sleepover or riding her bike. Instead, she has to do the shopping and the cooking for her mum, who is suffering from depression. She also has to give her regular medication and look after her younger brother and sisters. In Leeds, our Willow Young Carers’ Project helps young carers, like Lisa, by giving them access to opportunities and support, so that they can forget their caring responsibilities for a short while and enjoy their childhood. Each year, our Willow Young Carers Project helps and supports over 250 young carers. Our support varies, depending on each child’s needs, and includes providing individual advice and counselling (covering issues such as bullying, lack of self-esteem and falling behind with school work) and running group sessions, where young carers have a chance to take part in fun and self-development activities during term time and throughout the school holidays. “Here I am able to communicate with people who don’t think I’m a freak. A lot of people in my school thought I was weird because I look after my mum. Here we’ve all got similar struggles and you don’t have to ask people why they’re here.’ Hayley -13 At Willow, we give young carers the opportunity to meet other young people in similar situations, to make friends and undertake some fun activities including bowling, ice-skating, go-karting and going to the cinema. Other recent outings, trips and activities organised for young carers, have included days out to Flamingo Land, Tropical World and Light Water Valley. With every £25 you donate, we can help young carers to briefly get away from the concerns of their caring responsibilities at home and become children again. ‘Barnardo’s helps children like me to make their lives better. They give people a different kind of life. Better than it was before ’Alex (11)

    Solution

    100%
    Categories

  • Human Rights/Advocacy Human Rights/​Advocacy
  • Beneficiaries

    • Children (3-18) Children (3-18)
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)