Young Carers' Page

The Cardiff YMCA during the next 12 months is commencing a new project called Time 4 Me. This is a new project that will deal with Young Carers up to the age of 18 years. We have over the years been aware of the issues affecting young carers through our current youth and community work and provided a level of support when appropriate and necessary.

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Following a series of strategic meetings at Cardiff YMCA, and in consultation with Cardiff YMCA Board of Management, Cardiff County Council Young Carers Development Officer, our partners on the Cardiff Young Carers Task Group and Young Carers themselves, we have developed Time 4 Me to address the growing and unmet gaps in the need for more appropriate services to be accessible to young carers.

The project has been created to address a need to reach out to many more young people in Cardiff who assume great responsibility for the physical and emotional care of a parent or other family member and make a real difference, in particular, to those who are most vulnerable and isolated.

The Time 4 Me Project seeks to provide an accessible service that is tailored to the specific and identified needs of the young carers.

There is a significant, identified and accepted need for this project in Cardiff as young carers are a highly vulnerable but relatively un-recognised group. Their position as carers can expose them to pressures that often lead to poor physical and mental health which may hinder their personal development. As children and young people it can be difficult for them to understand and negotiate for their own needs and rights. The Time 4 Me Project will support and empower them to do this, as they have the right to be involved and consulted in any decision that affects their lives and the lives of those requiring care.

At present there is only one other Young Carers Project in Cardiff. Having consulted with the existing provider they have indicated their full support and would welcome the provision of additional services in Cardiff.

The project recognises that a child or young person does not necessarily have to provide hands on care, such as domestic chores, laundry etc., to be recognised as a Young Carer. Even when there are services or extended family in place to assist with the care of that person, the emotional impact and restrictions due to the disability are often felt, regardless of the issues at home.

The evidence of need for this project has been gathered through a process of consultation with Young Carers, the Young Carers Task Group, statutory and voluntary organisations, professionals, and empirical evidence that has been gathered by our youth workers through working within the schools and community.

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'The Association believes that the project is going to provide much needed support to young carers in Cardiff, giving them the opportunity to have a well deserved break and a chance to have time for themselves and have some fun, along with providing support we also plan to raise the profile of young carers and raise awareness amongst the general public and other services and organisations' says Steph Smith, Young Carers Project Worker

The project is now up and running and taking referrals from intake and assessment, if you would like more information then please contact the Chief Executive on 02920 465250 or steph.smith@cardiffymca.co.uk.