EVC Summer 2026_magazine_AWdigital - Flipbook - Page 25
Young carers
"They get so much
out of it ‒ and they
really deserve it"
“The main thing they get out of the
trip is respite, which they really
need,” says Karen. “But we also focus
on building their confidence and
self-esteem. They also get to try new
things, which they can then tell their
friends about; often young carers just
don’t get to do things like this.”
As well as the outdoor adventures,
there’s plenty of time to relax and
enjoy some down time – again
something that young carers rarely
get. But perhaps the most valuable
part of the weekend is to meet other
people their age who understand
what they’re going through.
“Sometimes young carers don’t make
friends easily because the other kids
don’t understand what their home
life is like, and they don’t have time
to socialise,” says Karen. “So to
come here and meet people who are
like them is hugely valuable. Some
amazing friendships develop and
that’s lovely to see. We do one-to-one
support in schools, but I don’t think
anything beats peer support.”
“We were delighted to be
able to support this fantastic
weekend through our EVOLVE
Advice grant. It’s so important
for young carers to have
these experiences, and we
are hugely grateful to Care
Northumberland and the
incredible team at Brathay Trust
for making it such a success.”
Jake Wiid – EVOLVE Advice
Brathay provided the programme of
carefully planned and risk-assessed
activities tailored to each child’s
needs, as well as the equipment and
trained staff. “These activities can
be risky, so it’s really important to us
that all of that has been done,” says
Anne-Marie. “We cover the night-time
in case anyone’s homesick or needs
support, but it’s great to know that
Brathay is managing everything else.
“We’re so grateful to Brathay for
approaching us, and to EVOLVE
Advice for providing the funding so
that these young people can get a
break,” adds Anne-Marie. “They get
so much out of it and they really
deserve it. We really hope we can
do it again.”
What they said…
It’s been really peaceful –
a lot more peaceful than I
thought it was going to be!
I was a bit nervous because
I am scared of heights, but
I’m trying to push myself
out of my comfort zone.
So far, I’m feeling fine!
I’ve been on other
residentials, but this one’s
by far my favourite one.
There’s a rule that they
keep you warm, they keep
you dry and they keep
you fed!
There’s loads of things
to do – I think it would
be great for more young
people to come and
experience this.
It’s been fantastic – even
the food’s been nice!
Read more about how you can support young carers on
educational visits in the Spring 2026 issue of The EVC
Magazine →theevcmagazine.com/archive/spring2026
THE EVC MAGAZINE – SUMMER 2026
25
