BRANCHING OUT
Young carers group aims to spread its message far and wide
03.05.2018 A group of young people who look after others is set to have a bigger and brighter profile.
Members of the Renfrewshire Young Carers Project have been working on a new logo and information leaflets in a bid to get the group better known and encourage others to join them.
Based at the Embroidery Mill, at Paisley’s Abbey Mill Business Centre, the group of 18 to 25 year olds has teamed with the town’s Zest Creative to get their message across.
David Brady is Young Adult Carers’ Transition Officer with the project, which has 150 people on its books.
He said: “Some carers have been caring from the age of eight.
“Caring from such a young age means that their education and their social circle may have suffered – because of their responsibilities, they don’t hav the same chance to get out and about and meet up withe friends.
“The group caters for the 18 to 25 age group living within the Renfrewshire area.
“We do activities with them and try to build life skills. A lot of young carers have low self esteem, so we try to build that up.”
Staff work in partnership with other organisations, such as Street League and the Princess Trust, who can bring their own expertise.
The project is now in a period of change as it tries to boost its profile for the benefit of those who take part.
“We are very fortunate that Michael Baron, from Zest Creative, offered to come in and do a free workshop with the group,” David said.
“Renfrewshire Carers has its own logo that is used on social media and branding.
“It is also used for the Young Adult Carers group and it’s quite generic at the moment. It doesn’t have an identity.
“Michael’s is looking to design a new logo with them.
“The group is very much all about the youngsters. They shape the direction it goes in and they decided they wanted a logo of their own.
“This will be our focus for the next couple of months, trying to change the logo and design our posters.
“We hope it will help to get us recognised within the local community and to hopefully welcome new members into the group.”
No design had been chosen as yet, although there are plenty of ideas from the young carers.
“They wanted to embrace what it means to be a young adult carer with Renfrewshire Carers’ Centre,” David said.
“A lot of them have been with the group for a long time.
“They want the group to reach a wider audience, as well to bring more people into it.”
Ideas for the logo so far have included trees, key words, a group of people, and plain text
“There are various other ideas too,” David said. “It’s an ongoing process at the moment, and it’s all very good.”
If you are a young carer and would like to get involved, then call 0141 887 3646, or email enquiries@renfrewshirecarers. org.uk
Renfrewshire Young Carers are on Twitter @RenCarersYAC
The office is at Unit 55, Embroidery Mill, Abbey Mill Business Centre, Paisley PA1 1TJ.