Our Young Carer Clubs are for Young Carers aged 8 to 16. They run on weekday evenings at Youth Centre’s in Clacton, Chelmsford, Colchester, Great Dunmow, Harlow, Harwich, Maldon, Loughton, Stansted, Witham.

If you come along to one of our Young Carer Clubs you will:

• Get a break from caring in a safe environment
• Take part fun activities
• Meet other children in a similar situation who understand what you are going through
• Make new friends

We organise activities such as indoor and outdoor games, cooking sessions and arts and craft projects. Some Clubs provide access to computers and games such as pool and table tennis. In the school holidays we organise events such as Sports Days and outings to the Zoo, bowling, an outdoor pursuits centre and or the cinema.

If you want, you will have an opportunity to talk with a trusted staff member in a safe and confidential environment. Clubs give Young Carers a chance to make friends who are also caring for someone, to have fun and a break from their caring role.

Each Club is led by an experienced Club Lead Worker, supported by a Club Night Assistant and volunteers. All staff and volunteers are DBS checked and fully trained. But most importantly, they are friendly, fun and they are there because they want to support you.

Our latest Young Carers survey shows that the children we support:

• Get a break from caring – 76%
• Feel less lonely – 61%
• Feel happier – 85%
• Have somebody to talk – 87%
• Made new friends – 68%
• Feel less stressed and anxious – 58%
• Feel valued and listened to – 82%
• Thought about what they want to do in the future – 61%

They also report improved self-confidence and self-esteem and feelings of positivity.

“Pockets of childhood that allowed me to feel like a child again for a few hours every week”