Young carers, supported by Westbank, have ‘time of their life’ at festival

Young carers from Devon, who attended this year’s Young Carers Festival with the support of Westbank, have told the charity they ‘had the time of their life’ at the annual event.

Through its Devon Young Carers Service, Westbank Community Health and Care supports more than 3,000 young people aged from 4 to 18 who help look after someone who is ill, disabled or misuses drugs and alcohol. 

Through the generous support of local organisations, the service was able to take 18 young carers - accompanied by 3 staff members and one volunteer - to enjoy a weekend at YMCA Fairthorne Manor in Southampton at the end of June. Every summer, the YMCA partners with The Children’s Society to host the largest festival in the world for young people with a caring responsibility at home. 

During their weekend away, one young carer said, “I’ve never come to anything like this before, I’m having the time of my life.” Feedback from family members was just as positive, with parents saying their children had loved the experience. One told Westbank staff, “Thank you all for organising and taking our young people. Es had such a fantastic weekend and has made connections with others, which is brilliant.” Another said, “You’re all wonderful people, and I wanted to let you know how much we appreciate your support.” 

On average it costs £350, including travel, for every Young Carer who attends the festival - one of the highlights of their year. It’s a place where they can have fun, unwind, make new friends and try new things. Young carers coming together in this way has also been shown to give them a powerful voice to raise awareness about the issues they face and has provided a political platform to influence and inform national and local policy.