Caring for someone with an illness, disability, mental health condition, or substance misuse is a challenge at any age but for young carers, it can mean balancing school, social lives, and personal development alongside responsibilities at home. Kingston Carers’ Network support over 4000 adult carers with a further 900 young people registered with their Young Carers’ Project, offering support, guidance, and a sense of belonging to these incredible young people.
To honour their resilience and celebrate their ambitions, the Young Carers’ Project hosted its second Party Conference on Saturday 2nd November. This year’s theme was ‘Dream Big!’ and with the generous support of Chessington World of Adventures, the event brought together more than 200 young carers and professionals for a memorable day filled with fun, friendship, and ambition. For many attendees, it was their first-ever visit to a theme park, and the joy on their faces made the day unforgettable!
The venue was bursting with excitement from the very start, with young carers greeted by a Gruffalo and an animated hippo that instantly brought smiles to all. This festive atmosphere set the stage for a day packed with highlights.
Young carers delighted in a thrilling magic show, along with balloonists, glitter tattooists, and a photo booth to capture precious memories. Fearless young carers took to the stage for dance and drama performances as well as sharing inspiring personal stories, with young carers talking about their unique experiences and challenges. Guest speakers, including Sir Ed Davey, added further inspiration, offering heartfelt messages of support and encouragement.
Workshops were also a highlight, particularly a young carer stone-painting session inspired by the theme Dream Big. These will be turned into an art sculpture which will be displayed outside of Guildhall. Prizes added a touch of excitement, with lucky winners from our creative competition taking home rewards, including a brand-new laptop.
The conference also featured a special book launch of a picture story book made specially for young carers by the author Ana Graca who gave out free copies from a special bunny rabbit themed stall. Some of the youngest young carers on the project helped Ana with ideas for the story and even chose the name for the book and its main character.
One of the attendees, Helen, aged 18, who has been part of the Young Carers’ Project since she was just five, summed up the day beautifully, “It was an eye-opening, inclusive, productive day, with the chance to meet so many amazing people within our community and express to others just how great the Young Carers’ Project is.”
Fulfilling Dreams and Creating New Opportunities
Since the conference, we’ve already seen young carers beginning to realise their dreams. The winner of our creative competition is now on their way to becoming a content creator, thanks to professional coaching from a digital firm. Another young carer who dreams of being an artist now has access to art supplies thanks to a generous, anonymous donor. A young carer dreaming of becoming a mechanic has been offered hands-on experience and the dance and drama team who performed at the conference have even been treated to a trip to a London show, fuelling their dreams of one day performing on stage themselves.
Looking to the Future
In recent years, the Young Carers Project have seen a tremendous increase in the demand for their services for young carers. However, this growth has also put significant strain on the team and their resources. With two major grant extensions ending, they are facing challenges that may limit their ability to support these young carers as fully as they need. If you can support the project whether this be by financial means or volunteering then please get in contact.
The conference demonstrated that, with the right support, young carers can pursue and achieve their dreams. Kingston Carers’ Network is immensely proud of these inspiring young people, and we look forward to seeing where their journey takes them next. This event reminds us all that young carers may face unique challenges, but with community support, their potential is limitless. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Chessington World of Adventures and all who contributed to making this day special. Together, we’re helping young carers dream big and realise their full potential.