VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP YOUNG CARERS HAVE FUN

Being a carer and taking responsibility for a family member is a tough undertaking for anyone, but especially for a child or young person. Caring for others can lead to isolation and feelings that no-one understands, a lack of time for play and leisure, and problems at school.

Spurgeon’s Young Carers Project supports children and young people up to the age of 18 who look after a family member that is ill, has a disability, is experiencing mental distress or is affected by substance misuse. In this area, the charity needs more volunteers in two roles, as one-to-one befrienders and as helpers at a monthly youth club.

Volunteer one-to-one befrienders offer emotional support and friendship. They are someone for the young carer to talk to who will listen, who can help with educational support and information, and above all, give the young person an opportunity to have fun like their peers. This often includes trips to local attractions, the cinema, shopping, going out for a pizza or just a walk and a chat, whatever the young person wants. Spurgeon’s reimburses all expenses to volunteer befrienders.

Volunteers in this role need to be able to regularly visit the young carer, approximately once a fortnight for a few hours, generally at the weekend or in the evening. Prior to taking up this position, volunteers need to complete two days training, which takes place on Saturdays and is funded by the charity.   

At Spurgeon’s Young Carers youth club, carers aged 5-18 years have the rare opportunity to get a well-deserved break from their responsibilities at home and mix with other children of their age.

The club runs once a month on Monday evenings in Downside, Dunstable, and young carers are able to take part in activities such as football, pool, doing jigsaws, having fun on a PlayStation, reading magazines, or just chatting.

Volunteers are supported by staff at all times. They help set up and pack away activities, run the tuck shop and generally facilitate the children’s play and interaction with their peers. Volunteers also engage with the young people as and when appropriate, although this is not the main function of the volunteering role.

To find out more about these or the hundreds of other volunteering opportunities in and around this area, contact Lucy or Rebecca at The Volunteer Centre, telephone 01525 850559 or email volunteer@action-centralbeds.org.uk