Epsom Soroptimists are really proud of the part they have played in the setting up of My Time for Young Carers. They have been central to the management of the project from the very beginning and members have given practical support that has enabled the charity to grow.
It could be said that young carers are the invisible children in our community. When people are asked if they know any young carers, their faces go blank. Even professionals are likely to miss indicators that suggest that the home situations of the youngsters that they know or support are causing them stress or hardship.
So many people think that young carers are only labelled as such if they carry out personal care for parents or siblings or take on an unusually large proportion of household chores. Although this is sadly the case for far too many young people, at My Time we recognise that if a family member suffers from either physical or mental ill-health, it more often than not impacts negatively on the lives of the children. If siblings have behavioural problems, life at home can be very difficult for their brothers and sisters. Stress is the one thing that links all these young people. Parents often feel guilty that they can’t give their children the treats or more importantly the attention that they deserve and so the stress levels are compounded.
We wish more schools understood the fact that young carers are bullied, can’t always get their homework done or have reasons for being so tired in class. Sadly, they are less likely to achieve their potential when they leave education and often dismiss the option of going to university because of the uncertainty of leaving their cared-for family members behind.
My Time was set up purely to give the members some respite for the problems at home and an opportunity to meet other young carers. It’s hard to take friends home if you don’t know what you’ll find when you get there. It’s hard for children and young people to admit that their home set-up is different from that of their school friends. For these and many other reasons, it’s hard for young carers to make and keep friends.
But at My Time sessions, members can let their hair down, forget their troubles and have fun. In 2012, 8 youngsters came to the first meeting, supported by 8 adults. There are now 80 registered youngsters who come to clubs in 4 locations in Surrey – Ewell and Dorking for the 7 to 12 year olds and Fetcham and Stoneleigh for secondary school students. Our volunteer team has grown to 40+ with ages ranging from school 6th formers to 70 year olds. There is a real family atmosphere in all the clubs.
Everything is free – sessions, off-site activities, transport and food. The Trustees love the fact that My Time is a true community project with funding from local groups and individuals keeping us financially afloat. However, without the amazing input from the volunteers, My Time wouldn’t exist. They drive, cook, provide inspiration and support for activities, encourage and support the quietest members of the groups and above all else, listen.
My Time = quality time for everyone.