We’re there because we care!
What is a Young Carer?
A young Carer is a child or young person up to the age of 18 (or a Young Adult Carer up to the age of 21) whose life is affected by looking after someone with a disability or long-term illness or health condition. They carry out, often on a regular basis, significant or substantial caring tasks and assume levels of responsibility usually associated with an adult. The person they care for may be a parent, a sibling or another family member, and the care they give may be practical, physical and/or emotional.
What do we do?
GYGYC as a charity aims to offer a seamless support service to young carers across the borough of Great Yarmouth. Through age-specific Peer support groups, one to one mentoring also counselling. Young carers (YC, aged 5 -16) and Young Adult Carers (YAC aged 17 to 19) are described as young people who are either support their parents/guardians who have an illness, disability or issues around drugs or alcohol, or support their parents/guardians to look after a sibling or another family member. This caring role can have a dramatic effect on their lives, their physical and emotional health. The younger carers also miss out on the normal parent and child relationship and the activities and trips this incorporates. The groups offer a break from the intensity of their caring role, through support, respite, fun and learning opportunities by delivering a programme of positive activities, either in house or trips to local attractions through the empowering model ensuring every young person has a voice in the planning, delivery and evaluation therefore the development of the charity, ensuring they no longer feel isolated. The Youth Workers and Young Carers Support workers offer them different role models and support regarding coping mechanisms and strategies and assist them through the transitions they face from Junior to Secondary School, from Secondary School to Further Education, training or Employment. Therefore, supporting the young person's wellbeing and mental health during their growth and development, but especially during the key transition periods of change.
History
In 2011, the organisation was established by Terry Macrowan (was Wood) and with succeeded funding, the Young People’s Committee was developed. Further funding led to the first peer support group opening in November 2011. Since then the organisation became a charity in May 2013 and has had continued success with grants to enable us to open more Peer support groups during term time and with donations, young people’s fund raising events and additional grants to support a school holiday activity programme. In April 2015 we appointed a full-time Manager and were able to add an Admin assistant in March 2018 to the staff team and as the number of referrers grew in January 2019 we were successful in obtaining funding to employ two Full-time and two part-time Youth Workers/Support Workers to start to offer our one to one mentoring scheme.
“When I come to young carers I feel free and happy”
“GYGYC makes you feel proud of what you do”
“The staff are great and easy to talk to”
“They’re like a big family, my second home”
