Our work with young carers
This year’s Making It Matter focus groups and interviews were conducted with children, staff and parents from seven young carer services. These explored the impact of in-venue projects between August 2019 and March 2020; and those delivered via Create Live! from April to September 2020.
The study found that our projects had a lasting impact on young carers, more critical than ever during lockdown with reduced education and increased isolation impacting attainment levels and mental health. Projects enabled carers to build long-term friendships, enhance social skills, reduce isolation, improve wellbeing and build self-confidence. They increased participants’ creativity and artform (eg: music) skills; and inspired many to engage in further creative activities. They also changed some participants’ perception of their caring role.