The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, met young carers to discover their hopes for the future during a special Caring Together Charity event in Norwich.
Dame Rachel chatted to young carers supported by Caring Together, congratulating some on their GCSE results, as they enjoyed a fun day away from their caring duties at Bowling House.
She was there as part of a nationwide tour to promote The Big Future project, an ambitious attempt to survey one million young people across the country during the final year of her six-year term as Children’s Commissioner.
The aim of the initiative is to find out about what it’s like to be a child today, as well as the changes they want to see in their communities, their biggest concerns, and their hopes for the future.
Young carers and young adult carers supported by Caring Together have the responsibilities of caring for a parent or sibling with a disability or long-term condition.
Dame Rachel said: “It was absolutely fantastic to be there. Friendship came up a lot when I was talking to the young carers, having friends that understand.
“We got them all to fill in our Big Future survey. We’re asking them lots of questions because we need everyone to be more aware of young carers.
“It’s about how we treat them and how we help them get over the real challenges they’ve got when they’ve got these huge responsibilities.”
Young carer Gabriel, a member of Caring Together’s Norfolk Young Carers Forum, showed Dame Rachel how to bowl as she had a go at knocking down the pins.
He said: “I had a lovely chat with her. It was good that she came along as I feel sometimes the politicians don’t see how we are, so I think that’s important.
“I think there definitely needs to be more inclusivity for young carers and more activities like this, so we can relax and have more stress-free lives.”
Carers Trust Policy Manager Andy McGowan was also at the event, advocating the need for young carers’ champions in every school in the country.
He added: “These sorts of opportunities that Caring Together provide, and we support through Carers Trust, make a huge difference around reducing isolation, helping support their mental health, just having friends and saying ‘I can be a young person’.”
Caring Together Charity Young Carers Services Manager Jo Harvey said: “It was great having Dame Rachel here to talk to some the young carers we support through our Norfolk Young Carers Forum and our dedicated service in Great Yarmouth and Gorleston.
“She understands that young carers have lots of responsibilities at home that they need support with. We are sure she will have taken on board what they had to say for The Big Future survey.”
