We were delighted to welcome the Young Carers Illustration Project team to our summer party, where illustrator and storyteller Ana Graça captured the celebrations and interviewed two of our young carers, Lena and Victoria, about their involvement in the development of her children’s book Young Carers in Space.

Working alongside primary school-aged young carers, including young carers supported by Kingston Carers Network, the Young Carers Illustration Project aims to increase representation of young carers in children’s literature.

Through interactive workshops, young carers shared their experiences and ideas, helping to shape the story, characters and illustrations.

“I feel like for me, I was like, "Wow, this is such a cool book because it's kind of like us, but like they don't have our name, so it's like anonymous, but like it's us." Lena

Young Carers in Space follows Honey, as she travels into space with the help of a fairy while learning that she does not have to face challenges alone. At home, Honey helps care for her older brother and struggles to share her worries with her teacher at school. Along the way, she discovers other young carers like her and learns that support is available.

The story was inspired by the experiences and perspectives shared by young carers during the workshops, including contributions from Lena and Victoria.

In the new film, Lena and Victoria talk about what it meant to see young carers represented in a book.

“When the book launched, I remember I was really excited because no one ever puts us in books.” Victoria

Both young carers also spoke about how the project helped others understand their experiences. Lena explained: “I felt really special because people were kind of talking about me and they kind of started to understand how I felt.”

Watch the film below to hear more from Lena and Victoria and see highlights from our summer party.

Read the books

Download Young Carers in Bunnyland
Download Young Carers in Space

Learn more about the Young Carers Illustration Project and Ana Graca’s work

Kingston Carers Network (KCN) has launched its 2026 Big Give campaign, Creative Connections for Carers, and we are looking for supporters to make pledges that will help bring it to life. 

Last year, supporters helped us successfully raise £10,000 through the Big Give to support young carers. This year, we will be seeking to raise £20,000 to support unpaid carers of all ages across Kingston.

How does pledging work?

The Big Give Christmas Challenge works differently from a standard fundraising appeal. Before the public December campaign begins, charities are asked to secure pledges of £100 or more from local businesses, organisations and individuals.

This year, securing £5,000 in pledges before 28 August will unlock the match funding available during the Christmas Challenge (1–8 December). Match funding enables us to double public donations given in December - which is what makes this fundraising opportunity such a powerful one.

During the Christmas Challenge itself, members of the public will be able to donate any amount. 

Why Creative Connections for Carers?

Taking on caring responsibilities can have a significant impact on a person’s own health and wellbeing. Many unpaid carers spend much of their time supporting someone else, which can leave them feeling isolated and with fewer opportunities to connect with others, pursue their own interests or take time for themselves.

Through Creative Connections for Carers, we will provide monthly creative arts activities for adult and young carers across Kingston. These activities will give carers opportunities to meet others who understand their experiences, take a break from caring and enjoy the wellbeing benefits that creative expression can bring. 

Research from Carers UK highlights the impact caring can have on carers’ mental health. Half of carers (50%) report feeling lonely and almost half (49%) have felt depressed, reflecting the significant emotional and practical pressures that can accompany a caring role.

The funding will support much more than creative materials. It will enable us to deliver high-quality creative experiences, including artist-led workshops, music, storytelling and exhibitions, with skilled facilitators and the support needed to make these opportunities accessible to carers.

We would love members of our community to support Creative Connections for Carers and helping us unlock this year’s Big Give campaign.

Anyone can be a pledger. If you would like to become one, please complete the pledge form before 28 August 2026. If you would like to discuss this opportunity further, please do contact us directly.

If you can’t make a pledge, you can still help enormously by sharing our appeal with your networks or passing it on to a local business or someone you know who may be able to. 

Through six simple scenes, they introduced themselves, shared who they care for, how caring shapes their lives, how it affects them, what they enjoy about coming to Kingston Carers Network’s Young Adult Carers group and a positive aspiration for the future.

As they planned their videos together, the conversation naturally turned to their experiences of caring. The group shared the challenges and realities of being a carer, while also speaking about the love and empathy they feel towards the people they care for. The conversations were deeply honest, supportive and shaped by shared understanding.

“The activity just allowed everyone to open up about their caring roles through shared discussions. Everyone was honest about how difficult it can be, but there was also a huge sense of love and pride for the people they care for.”

Young Adult Carers Support Worker Chrissy

We’re incredibly grateful to Kiah, Riley and Kyle for sharing their stories. You can watch their videos below and hear, in their own words, what being a young adult carer means to them and the hopes they have for the future.

Riley's story

Kyle's story

Kiah's story

Inspired by this? We are currently raising funds for Creative Connections for Carers to help us continue delivering creative opportunities and support for carers of all ages. If you'd like to support this campaign, you can find out more or pledge now.

Deborah and Emily were delighted to join presenter Julie Royce on her show, Hoolia’s Hopscotch, on Kingston Hospital Radio on Tuesday 14 July.

The interview was an opportunity to shine a light on unpaid carers across Kingston and the support we offer, while also celebrating the spirit of Mandela Day. Marked each year on 18 July, Mandela Day encourages people to spend 67 minutes helping others in honour of Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of public service.

Deborah shared her own experience of coming to us for support after her daughter was diagnosed with autism.

Having benefited from our neurodivergent carers’ support group, she was inspired to become one of our volunteers and now helps other carers navigate the benefits system, helping people through what can often be a stressful and complicated process.

“I found the support group really supportive as a carer. Following that, I felt I would like to give something back, so I became a volunteer. Now I’m supporting other carers with the benefits process because it can be extremely complicated, and lots of people need that extra support.”

Deborah

Emily spoke about the many people who don’t recognise themselves as carers and encouraged anyone supporting a family member, friend or neighbour locally to get in touch. She also highlighted the incredible contribution our volunteers make and shared simple ways people can support carers in their own communities.

“If you’re wondering how to spend your 67 minutes on Mandela Day, think about someone you know who might be caring for a loved one. Instead of saying, ‘Let me know if you need anything’, offer something specific, like picking up their shopping, dropping off a meal or sitting with their loved one while they have a cup of tea. Practical offers like these are much easier to say yes to and can make a huge difference.”

Emily

You can listen to Deborah and Emily’s interview here.

We’d also like to thank David Nicholls and Julie Royce for generously donating copies of You Are Here for our carers following Julie’s musical review of the book on last week’s programme. You can listen to that episode here.

Finance Officer

Location: Kingston upon Thames, with some hybrid working

Salary: £14,400 pro rata for 14 hours per week

Hours: 14 hours per week, part-time, with flexible working

Contract: Permanent

Closing date: Monday 17th August

Interviews: Commencing 31st August

About the Role

Kingston Carers’ Network is seeking a part-time Finance Officer to support the smooth running of our charity’s finance function.

Key Responsibilities

Working closely with the CEO, Treasurer and budget holders, you will help maintain accurate financial records, process income and expenditure, reconcile bank accounts, support payroll information and contribute to financial reporting, budgeting and year-end processes.

Who we're looking for

We are looking for someone organised, accurate and values-driven, with experience of managing day-to-day finance processes in a small or medium-sized organisation. Experience of Sage or a similar accounting package is essential, and charity finance experience would be an advantage.

Further details and application form here

A huge thank you to Vocality Surbiton for choosing Kingston Carers Network's Young Carers Project as the charity it supported at its end-of-term concert for friends and family on Wednesday 1 July at St Andrews Church, Surbiton.

Vocality Surbiton is a welcoming community choir whose members perform a varied repertoire of pop, jazz, blues, folk, gospel, spirituals and songs from around the world. The choir selected our Young Carers Project as its chosen charity thanks to choir member Nicole, our Young Carers Project Administrator, who organised the fundraising initiative.

During the evening, our Young Carers Project Manager Klaire and Support Workers Aisha and Claire gave a short talk about our work and the impact we are having for young carers across the borough. Afterwards, the team enjoyed speaking with choir members and concert-goers, sharing more about the support we provide to local young carers and their families.

Thanks to the generosity of everyone who attended, the concert raised an incredible £1109.20. This support will help us fund our exciting programme of over 20 summer activities for more than 130 young carers, including paintballing, a three-day radio drama workshop at the Rose Theatre Kingston, and daytrips to Brighton and Thorpe Lakes Aqua Park.

The money raised will also provide an ice cream for every young carer attending these activities, giving each child an extra treat and helping to make their summer even more special.

Thank you once again to everyone at Vocality Surbiton, and to all those who donated so generously, helping us provide even more moments of fun and respite for local young carers this summer.