Young carers are on the ball

Unsung heroes get a kick out of showing soccer skills in summer scheme

A collaboration between a leading children’s charity and the Celtic FC Foundation lef t a group of young carers from North Lanarkshire cock-ahoop with joy as they sampled two weeks of football- based activities.

The youngsters, supported by Action for Children’s North Lanarkshire Young Carers project, took part in a series of sessions that gave them an opportunity to show off their soccer skills.

The courses saw participants involved in team- building sessions, football drills, a freestyle workshop and a climactic tournament before a special celebration event – all hosted by the Celtic FC Foundation.

The charity’s project, based in Motherwell but covering the whole of North Lanarkshire, provides care and support to family members who may have a range of needs including disability, mental health and substance misuse.

Action for Children Scotland aims to help these young carers by “safeguarding their health and wellbeing, supporting them with education, training and employment and increasing their access to leisure, cultural and social opportunities”.

Paul Carberry, Action for Children director for Scotland, said: “We know, from our own research, that the summer can be some of the loneliest of times for young carers.

“While many their age will be spending time outdoors with friends, young carers don’t get that holiday experience and continue to provide important, and lifechanging, care for family members.

“By working with the Celtic FC Foundation, we were able to deliver a series of activity- based sessions for the young people we support in North Lanarkshire.

“We are also very pleased that this is not a one off, with a key focus for the project being to bring the young carers back during the October holidays for follow-up activity.

“We are very grateful to the Celtic FC Foundation for working with us to deliver this programme and provide young carers with such a memorable experience.”

Tony Hamilton, chief executive of the Celtic FC Foundation, added: “We were really pleased to be able to lay on a series of fun activities for the young carers supported by Action for Children.

“We recognise that summer can be difficult for young carers as they don’t get the same holidays as their friends do.

“However, by working with Action for Children, we were able to deliver a series of activities aimed at providing them with fun and the chance to make new friends.”

Action for Children Scotland works closely with schools across North Lanarkshire to raise awareness of the issues and worries young carers face on a daily basis – and positively identify young carers who may need support.

Paul Carberry added: “For more than 20 years we have been supporting young carers in North Lanarkshire. However, we also recognise that there may be some young people out there that are caring for family without our support and we encourage them to come forward.

“Our North Lanarkshire Young Carers project is there to help.”

To find out more about North Lanarkshire Young Carers, visit: http://bit.ly/ AFCNLYC