Young carers' stories

Transitions Group

Willow recently ran the Transitions Group for young carers moving up from primary to high school. The group were able to help each other by talking about their hopes and worries around the transition to high school. They also went on a day trip in the summer holidays to the national coal mining museum in Wakefield. Cameron and Jamie created a cartoon strip telling the story of the day (see picture on the right). Click on link Cameron and Jamie's Cartoon (PDF) to view the cartoon strip.

Comments from the Transitions Group:

"It has helped me at school. It is a good idea."

"I have enjoyed these sessions."

"I think that the group was fun and helpful and the food was nice."

"I feel more comfortable than I did before."

"It helped me not worry about high school."

Mosaic group

This mosaic on the right was made by 6 young carers, to express how they feel about caring for someone and juggling the different elements of their lives.

The mosaic materials and expertise were provided by local community organisation Seagulls.

Comments from Aidan, young carer aged 10, who was part of the mosaic group:

"Coming up with the idea for the mosaic with the other young carers was fun. We worked with the Willow workers and people from seagulls to put our ideas together. It was so cool bringing our parents down to see the unveiling of our work. We had food, our parents got to chat and meet each other and I was able to play on the wii with the other young carers. I like the idea that when others visit Willow the first thing they see when they go in the door is our work."

Newsletter group

A group of four young carers recently published a Willow newsletter, which was distributed to all schools in Leeds. Matt pictured on the right wrote several articles for the newsletter and has also had his work published in 3 local newspapers.

Willow Young Carers Newsletter (PDF)

Comments from Matt, young carer aged 16:

"Doing the newsletter has been a great experience for me because I have had to work to a deadline and the finished product has helped me get my place in college."

CD ROM Group

A group of 7 young carers were supported by Willow young carers, with funding from Education Leeds, to produce an interactive CD-ROM to be distributed to all schools in Leeds in 2007. The launch of the CD-ROM at Leeds town hall was so successful that the young people were invited to the Barnardo's annual general meeting at the Barbican centre in London to present their work.

If you would like a copy of the CD-ROM for your school or organisation, please contact Willow Young Carers Service.

Comments from Nathan, young carer aged 17, who was part of the CD-ROM group:

"Producing the CD-ROM is something we are all proud of. We are helping to raise young carer awareness and also telling them that they're not alone and that someone understands what they're going through. Meeting and sharing stories with other young carers lets you belong to a kind of family who are there to listen, help, advise and support you."