About Kids Who Care

Background

Kids Who Care is the Young Carers project in Mid Devon.
It was set up in 2005 in response to an identified need to provide practical and emotional support to Young Carers who undertake a significant caring role. To date, the project has run Youth Centre based activity evenings once a month, trips out at weekends and during school holidays, and residentials.

A regular newsletter is also sent to all 100 currently registered Young Carers in the area. The mentoring part of the project started in May 2007, and was initially funded by Awards for All (Lottery Grants for Local Groups). Since April 2008, the mentoring and befriending project is funded by Volunteering England.

The Kids Who Care project is supported locally by Unite, Carers in Mid Devon, a registered charitable company, as well as Mid Devon Social Services. It is managed by Carewise, the Young Carers Project across North Devon and Torridge, who has experience of managing and running a similar project, and provides us with a model of best practice.

Definition of a Young Carer

A Young Carer is a young person, up to the age of 18, whose educational, health, social or emotional development may be affected by their caring responsibilities in the family. This will be at home, or elsewhere; in respect of physical or emotional caring; normally on a long term basis; and in comparison to what any young person of comparable age could reasonably be expected to experience or achieve.

Mission Statement

We aim to identify, and offer information, practical and emotional support, and opportunities for fun leisure activities to Young Carers.

Aims

• Identify Young Carers and offer them access to the services of Kids Who Care.
• Raise awareness of the issues and needs of Young Carers and their families and identify any gaps in provision.
• Provide services that reflect the needs, wishes and aspirations of Young Carers.
• Recruit, train and support Volunteer Mentors to work on a one-to-one basis with Young Carers.
• Provide volunteers with the opportunity to obtain skills, gain training, and develop experience in youth work and social care.
• Develop a model of best practice for Young Carer projects.

Unite information:

Registered charity number 1099188
Company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 4779388
Registered office: 2 Bridge Street, Tiverton EX16 5LY