Youth development service on mission to aid young carers
Mid Argyll Youth Development Service (MAYDS) is launching a new initiative to aid young carers.
Thanks to a Scottish Government initiative rolled out to all councils across Scotland, MAYDS has received a £25,000 grant from Argyll and Bute Council to help young carers and offer support.
After a rigorous application process, MAYDS was given the green light to deliver the statutory young carers service, which will see workers visit every primary and secondary school throughout the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islands areas to deliver workshops that will help identify young carers and offer support and activities.
Lynn Johnstone of MAYDS said: ‘Most young carers aren’t even aware they’re carers, and they don’t know how to ask for help.
‘If they’re making sure their loved one is taking their pills, helping them get to the bathroom, anything like that, they’re a carer.’ The workshops are designed to offer support to those who need it most, who probably aren’t even aware they need or qualify for it. As well as financial support, information and aid, activities such as horse riding and surfing are also on offer.
Lynn added: ‘Young carers would not have someone to arrange these things for them. We try to use local services as much as possible.’
Workshops will also be carried out with teachers to help them identify and support young carers to broaden the awareness of the carer community.
‘We’re trying to educate people on how to identify young carers, what is available to young carers and how to support young carers.’
MAYDS has also received £6,000 from the Carers Acts Transformation Support (CATS) Fund to improve their website, computers and even develop an app to help them implement the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 in 2019, and £90,000 over three years from the Big Lottery Fund towards project and activity costs.
Big Lottery Fund Scotland chairwoman Maureen McGinn said: ‘I am delighted that Mid Argyll Youth Development Services has been successful in securing Young Start funding. This award will make a big difference the lives of local young people who will be at the heart of both project design and delivery. I wish MAYDS every success as it goes on to develop and expand its project to help young people reach their potential.’