Rugby star hosts auction to support young carers
EXETER Chiefs Rugby star and Devon Young Carers Ambassador Ollie Devoto is hosting an online charity auction giving sports fans a chance to bid on rare memorabilia, including signed jerseys, boots and kit bundles.
The proceeds of the auction, which is currently live and running until Sunday, April 18, will go towards Devon Young Carers.
A young carer is someone aged 18 or under who helps look after somebody with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem. This could mean caring for a family member or friend of the family.
As many as one in five UK schoolchildren are estimated to be young carers.
Devon Young Carers has a team of professionals who support young carers in several ways, including offering them advice and opportunities to socialise with others in their position.
Commissioned by Devon County Council and delivered by Devonbased charity Westbank Community Health and Care, it supports over 1,600 young carers across Devon.
Ollie Devoto, who in his day-job is a centre for Exeter Chiefs and an England International, was invited to become a Devon Young Carers Ambassador in February and has already met young carers, both in person and virtually.
He said he would like to help in any way he can to ensure young carers get the help and support they need.
Ollie said: “I’ve never been in this position [of being a young carer], but if you felt like you were on your own, it’s important to know you have got support and if I could be that in any way, shape or form, then I think it’s going to benefit some people.”
Talking about the auction, Ollie said: “I’ve been lucky a few of the
‘It’s important to know you have got support and if I could be that then I think it’s going to benefit some people’
other players at the Chiefs have helped me out, and there are a few unique prizes there to be won – I’m very thankful to them.
“There are a few pairs of boots there that have been worn during last season where we won the doubles – we won the European Championship and the Premiership trophy, so it was quite a successful year for us. And then there are also some international test jerseys there as well which are special items to get.”
Liz Smith from Devon Young Carers said Ollie and the young carers would decide how the funding will be used, but that it could include giving them a bit of money “to spend on something that they’d regard as a break from their caring role.”
This could include craft activities that they can complete at home and trips out when possible.
Liz added: “Something that makes them feel like they’re not so different from their peers because they’re not – they’re just young people that have that additional responsibility caring for someone.”
Ollie recently took time out of training to surprise three rugby-loving young carers in Exeter and Okehampton, delivering food boxes and family meals.
They also enjoyed a trip to the local park where the young carers had the chance to pick up a few toptips from him.
Following the surprise visit, Ollie joined a question and answer session with a group of young carers. One young carer said at the time: “I met my hero today. I never thought that would ever happen to me.”