Young carers Newsletter 4 th Edition June-September 2013

1. Young carers Newsletter 4th EditionJune-September 2013

2. Welcome to the 4th edition of our newsletter. Its been a very busy few months with summer holidays and activities galore for everyone. Staff have been working very hard to help you all have a safe and fun summer as well as ensuring you have all had a positive start back to school. The next few pages will cover the fun in each area and what to look forward to in the next Holidays (not far off already!) As you all know now time outs have changed and with the exception of central young carers these have already started. We hope you’re all enjoying the new time outs. So have fun looking through the pages of the newsletter and see what's been going on near you. Contents Welcome/ content What's been going on in North Lancs What's been going on in Central Lancs What’s been going on in East Lancs Brockholes Young carers and the Law What we did Where is Barnaby? Coming soon Welcome

3. Over the summer you’ve had lots of exciting trips, from deer watching, maize maze, cinema trips, trips to the park and the beach, climbing centres, Alton Towers, wizard of oz, Blackpool Zoo, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Brockholes nature reserve, and Leighton Moss bird watching. You all must have really enjoyed the outdoors, and what a fantastic summer to let it happen. There is a little report of the day at Brockholes further on in the newsletter. we are looking forward to seeing you all back at school and planning more fun activities for the October half term. What’s been happening in North Lancashire?

4. What’s been happening in central Lancashire? Wow what a busy summer we’ve had! We took part in a small drama group which was held with The Helen O’Grady organization and funded by Ormskirk Lions’. All the young people involved had a great time and even put on a production at the end performed in front of the Mayoress! Each young carer was given a certificate too. Well done! There were lots of other fun activities too, including graffiti art and sport sessions as well as Alton Towers, splash zone, wizard of oz (with a cheeky trip to the chippy! ) potter and copper enamelling, arts and crafts, swimming, pamper sessions, film afternoons, gaming afternoon, cinema trips and bowling trips. A very busy summer and lots of young carers attended. We are looking forward to a new school term and already planning October half term holidays which include scar kingdom and Halloween parties. New time out sessions are also being planned which include fun activities such as RSPCA animal care, drama and Christmas activities planned!

5. We’ve had a great summer of activities which included lots of fun times from Alton Towers, Skipton Castle, wild boar park, sports sessions, wizard of oz, a trip with Burnley Early Intervention team to Blackpool Zoo, Urban Altitude, Mountain biking with Carers Link, and cooking sessions. The time out sessions in both areas have started and everyone should have received letters about the changes. The Burnley session was very well attended. we have some great half term activities to look forward to including the circus and bowling with a meal. We now have a mini bus which we will be using for time outs, one to ones and activities. This means we can now get more of you to sessions which is great.  What’s been Happening in East Lancashire?

6. North Lancs visit to Brockholes The children from Fylde and Wyre, had a great trip to Brockholes where they created this amazing den by working together and being a great team. They enjoyed ice creams and a picnic before pond dipping! They had a great time and asked to share their result of a fun day out. All the young carers who took part had a great day but sadly didn’t have time to go on the scavenger hunt so are begging Reni to let them go again. Why not ask your project workers about trips to Brockholes too.

7. We asked at time out sessions for your input to the newsletter and Blain from West Lancs has been very brave and asked if we can print his story. So Thank you Blain for sharing with us a small peep into you’re life as a young carer. If anyone else has any poems, stories, pictures you would like to share and add to the newsletter then please send them to kelly.colvin@barnardos.org.uk Blain’s Story "Blain's invisible life" (Blain explained the choice of title that people do not see what goes on in his life) "I am Blain Hodgkinson and I am 12. I live in Poulton, I love it! I am a lovely boy who cares for my little brother. He has got cerebal palsey. He will not be able to walk until he has £60000 operation with Dr Park in America. We are very very busy trying to raise this money. We have about £35000 up to now. It is very hard doing this job but when we have raised it we all will be so proud and joyful. We have done a family fun day with bouncy castle, karaoke and dressing up characters. Bag packing at supermarket and a cake sale at Millfield High school. I did a street dancing competion and dad did a sky dive. There are times I would rather play with my mates, but I feel like I would abandon them if I was going out to play instead of helping my family. I feel happy that I help to raise the money because when we have raised enough I know that I helped my brother Kai to walk. I know I accomplished something others can't. Barnardo's helps me take time off from my brother. I go to time out group once a month, I have been to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool zoo, celebration day, climbing and all were great fun. I am very grateful that they do this for me. I love it. Being with Barnardo's it is great. "

8. Young carers and the Law Over the last few months Barnardo’s as part of the National Young Carers Coalition, has been lobbying the UK Government for improved rights for young carers. There are 166,363, young carers in England, according to the latest census data released on 16th May 2013. However this is likely to be a significant underestimation due to the barriers in identifying young carers. Research by the BBC (2010) points to a higher number of over 700,000 young carers in the UK. Barnardo’s runs 23 services for young carers across the UK but many more of our other services are likely to encounter young carers in their work. So Why does the Law need to change? The law for young carer needs to change because existing Law and Guidance for young carers is complex and confusing., and poses a barrier to good frontline practice. There is a significant lack of clarity about responsibility and accountability for young carers, and professionals routinely fail to identify them. For those identified, often it is not until their situation has reached crisis point and they are suffering negative outcomes that they are allocated support by children’s services. What changes are we hoping to achieve? As part of our lobbying on the CARE Bill we are calling for a duty on local authority adult services to, as part of the adults needs assessment, identify where there are children (under the age of 18) in the family, and for additional services and support to be provided to the adult so that inappropriate caring responsibilities undertaken by children are prevented. Also that on the children and Families Bill local services to consider where Parents require additional services under adult’s care and support Legislation. We are also calling for the consolidation of existing Law and Guidance for accessing and supporting the needs of a young carer so that young carers have equal rights to those of adult carers and the legal framework simplified. Next steps The Government are looking to make these changes by October this year, so keep an eye out in the next newsletter to see what happened.

9. What we did We use a system called Hear by Rights to ensure we listen to what you say here are a few examples we’ve completed this quarter. We’ve helped a young carer become involved with their CAMHS worker as the relationship had broken down.What are the results?A new appointment has been made so the young carer can now receive the support they need. A young carer was struggling with school, so we spoke with school on her behalf who provided the young carer with a mentor whilst she is at school. What are the results?The young carer is now attending school and coping better During time out sessions young carers were asked the best way to contact them? What were the results? Letters are now sent to young carers to inform you of activities and time out sessions.

10. Where is Barnaby? Barnaby has had a lovely holiday whilst you were all having fun on activities but where is he? Send in your answers to Kelly.colvin@barnardos.org.uk For your chance to win a £5 voucher The winner from the last newsletter is Katie Heath

11. Coming soon Coming soon to your young carers newsletter Information on some conditions your families may face? (which condition would you like to see in here?) A young carers quiz (How much do you know about your service?) As well as all the usual fun catch ups and competitions