An Initiative to support young carers in the district is being expanded at Chichester Cathedral this summer.
The Young Carers Project aims to give those involved practical skills and support for daily life, the chance to discover new talents and boost their confidence, as well as to enjoy activities with other young people in the area. It is part of the Cathedral’s wider support of families in the city and across the diocese of Chichester.
The Cathedral has secured new funding from Chichester in Partnership which brings together organisations from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors to coordinate work for the benefit of the local area.
This additional funding will allow the expansion of the existing project, now open to young carers aged 11-25, to provide several cooking sessions as well as a range of creative activities throughout the year. Last year young carers enjoyed a pilot programme to learn about food preparation as well as planning, budgeting, healthy eating and dietary requirements. The Cathedral worked in partnership with food waste charity UK Harvest.
The Young Adult Carers Group will also have the opportunity to become part of the Cathedral’s Young Ambassadors for Social Action (YASA) initiative. Open to all 16-25 year olds, YASA promotes engagement with local and worldwide issues in order to raise awareness and make a positive contribution to change, while providing opportunities to discover new skills and talents. In addition, the older Group will meet once a month in Chichester City Centre Youth Drop-In in the Bell Tower, offering a chance to relax and socialise in a comfortable and informal meeting space.
The Dean of Chichester, The Very Reverend Stephen Waine is delighted that the Young Carers Project can be expanded. “Involving and promoting inclusivity with young people is central to the Cathedral’s learning and engagement activities across the diocese. We are pleased not only to offer practical support to young carers, but to give them the opportunity to discover new skills and become involved in action for change to the benefit of all. We are very grateful to Chichester in Partnership for enabling this great work to continue.”
The photograph shows one of the UK Harvest workshops last October