Since its launch in 2012, Horizon Young Adult Carers Service has been a great success with nearly 300 young people referred into the service, for all kinds of help and support.
The transitions service supports young adult carers between the ages of 14-25 years and we can provide 1-1 support, group activities, young people’s forums etc. We aim to improve confidence and well-being, increase choices available and help young adult carers to achieve their aspirations and full potential.
UK data show there 229,318 young adult carers aged 18-24 in the UK; 5.3% of all people in that age group. One quarter of these are providing care for more than 20 hours per week and almost 12% are providing care for more than 50 hours each week.
Our team of project workers have supported young people recently with accessing learning and training opportunities (including Steps 4 Success and the Prince’s Trust), accessing Carers Breaks, registering with housing associations, applying for benefits and CV preparation, in order that they achieve their own aspirations and ambitions.
The team also supports young people in training to become peer mentors, so that they can use their own experiences to help others and expand their own skills within Horizon and beyond.
Young Adult Carers Rebecca and Siobhan have recently returned from a residential Media Training weekend in Derbyshire, supported by Horizon staff. The weekend was a great success with carers from around the country attending. The media training included learning how to interview, questions to ask etc, conducting the interview and capturing the necessary footage. They also learned how to edit their interview report using the latest hi-tech equipment.
The films they created featured their caring role and challenges they face, as well as any positive factors and outcomes. They also took part in photography training capturing the different emotions that carers face in their daily lives, ranging from tired and anxious to happy and empowered.
Rebecca and Siobhan worked really hard throughout the weekend and Horizon won a specialist award for their quality of work inputted onto the ‘Makewaves’ website. The website is designed specifically for education, primarily used by schools, as well as organisations and projects that work with young people. https://www.makewav.es/
The pieces of film interview which the girls created are going to be used at conferences as well as been played “on loop” at the Carers Festival in Southampton at the end of June. They were very proud of their work.
Horizon case study:
Lisa is 17 and has a substantial caring role for her father and mother from around the age of 6. As a child it was more difficult for Lisa to go out and ‘play’ with peers and she was supported by the young carers service before Horizon.
Horizon has been supporting her to relieve her caring role into young adulthood whilst studying Art & Design at College and working part time in a local clothes store.
The team recently supported Lisa in accessing driving lessons after identifying that being able to drive would help Lisa increase her independence as well as helping her caring role, to access the community more easily. Lisa has now passed her driving test and was absolutely thrilled!
She has also been accepted into University; still continuing with her caring role and is even able to have a social life! Lisa is an inspiration to people who care from a young age and continues to help Young Adult Carers and professionals through her experiences.
If you are 14-25 and caring for someone in County Durham or know of anyone who is then please get in touch with us on (01325) 731 160 or e-mail horizons@disc-vol.org.uk and one of our staff will take some details and arrange a visit.
Young people can also contact the ASK helpline run by Cornforth Partnership by texting ASK (followed by their question) to 80800 for questions about any issues they feel they need support with.
Horizon is partnership between DISC, Action for Children, Consett YMCA and Cornforth Partnership funded by Big Lottery Fund. Youth in Focus is a £30 million England-wide funding programme launched by the Big Lottery Fund in 2010. The programme aims to help vulnerable young people to lead active and fulfilling lives by funding 30 local projects and three England-wide learning and awareness raising projects.
Horizon, DISC,
Sapphire House,
Unit 2, IES Centre,
Horndale Avenue,
Newton Aycliffe.
Tel: 01325 731160
E: horizons@disc-vol.org.uk
