October 2023 Newsletter - Young Carers

In this update

Violence Against Women and Girls Mural
COVID & Flu Vaccination Clinic and Outreach for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers
Carers UK - Raising Awareness of Unpaid Carers
Second 2023-2024 Cost of Living Payment Dates Announced
Introducing the Plymouth Youth Awards
Young Carers Collecting Medication
Improving Lives Project
Carers Rights Day - 23^rd November 23
Save The Date - Bath Philharmonia Orchestra
Children's Commissioner Survey
Useful links

Welcome to our latest newsletter, which we hope you find useful and informative. If there's a colleague or another provider in your network that you think would like to receive the newsletter, please feel free to forward it to them.

Please let us know if you have anything you would like us to share or publicise in a future issue.

Violence Against Women and Girls Mural

A group of young carers recently took part in an art project for Violence Against Women and Girls that aims to empower women and girls, and combat violence against them while acting as a public symbol of solidarity and awareness.

A group of girls had an in-depth planning session where we discussed the various issues that women and girls face across the city and what changes they would like to see to make Plymouth a safer place.

A local artist transformed their ideas, slogans and sketches into a final design onto a board on Honicknowle Green. The group spent the day spray painting their design and transforming the space with the help of Zoe Reilly, Labour and Cooperative Councillor for Honicknowle.

The message is 'Silence Fuels Abuse. Break The Silence, Stop The Cycle'. We hope that the artwork will spark conversations, inspire change and promote a safer, more inclusive community by raising awareness and encouraging collective action.

COVID & Flu Vaccination Clinic and Outreach for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers

The Young Carers team will be hosting a COVID (age 16-25) and flu (age 18-25) vaccination clinic on 14th November 2023 and 21st November 2023 7pm - 9pm at Honicknowle Youth Centre.

Transport can be provided for those who cannot make their own way to the clinic as well as refreshments, activities, and the use of a chill out area. If you would like to book a place for a young person, please contact the Young Carers team.

Covid-19 Vaccination Outreach Clinic

If you are interested in attending the outreach for young carers or young adult carers aged 16 to 25 then please contact Time4U@plymouth.gov.uk who will contact you with the details of the outreach clinic.

Carers UK - Raising Awareness of Unpaid Carers

Carers UK has released new research which finds that thousands of unpaid carers continue to struggle financially and are being forced into poverty because of the cost of living crisis and a benefit system that is unfit for purpose. Unpaid carers urgently need a financial boost this winter to ensure they can survive the winter months. They are calling on the Government to provide carers with additional and targeted financial support now, to prevent even more unpaid carers falling into poverty at the harshest time of year.

If you would like to help raise awareness of the research, you can do so by:

Sharing the report on social media - please find a suggested tweet below.
Writing to your MP about the financial challenges carers are facing. If you would like us to send you a draft letter for you to forward to your MP, please do not hesitate to contact policy@carersuk.org.

If you have any questions about the research, please contact policy@carersuk.org.

Second 2023-2024 Cost of Living Payment Dates Announced

Millions of households across the UK will receive £300 directly from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between 31^st October and 19^th November 2023. Please see link below for more info.

Second 2023 to 2024 Cost of Living Payment dates announced - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Introducing the Plymouth Youth Awards

Plymouth Youth Awards have a Young Carers category, please nominate a young carer that deserves this recognition. All nominees will be informed - let's brighten their day!

Do you know an inspiring young person making a change in our community? Or someone who has overcome the odds at school? Maybe a young apprentice who has made an incredible impact on your organisation? Or simply an unsung hero who brightens-up everyone's day with their small acts of kindness.

Come forward and nominate people you know under the age of 18 in Plymouth, across 16 inspiring categories. Nominations are open until 15^th December 2023 when they will be filtered to semi-finalists and then finalists for the grand final taking place in June 2024 at Crowne Plaza Plymouth.

Let's share their stories and celebrate the incredible youth we have in Plymouth

See below link:

Plymouth Youth Awards 2024 - YMCA Plymouth

Young Carers Collecting Medication

In 2016 Carers Trust produced a toolkit around engaging with pharmacies relating to young carers which included authorisation processes for the collecting of medicines - view the toolkit here. However, it is recommended that you contact your Local Pharmaceutical Committee to see if there are already local policies in place.

Remember that medication management is classified as an inappropriate task for young carers in the Care Act guidance. If the issue is collection, most pharmacies have delivery systems in place now and therefore may need to ensure that these people are eligible for delivery.

Improving Lives Project

We have linked in with Improving Lives who are leading a project within GP surgeries across Plymouth with the aim to improve identification and support in recognising Young Carers. The team will be going into 12 surgeries across Plymouth to work with GPs to raise awareness and recognition for young carers.

This will allow for an increased understanding of local young carers populations, better knowledge of support and services across the city as well as improved in-practice support for carers and young carers.

Please visit Improving Lives Plymouth for further information.

Carers Rights Day - 23rd November 23

Please send any information about your Carers Rights Day activities to Time4U@plymouth.gov.uk so we can feature them in the November 2023 newsletter!

Save The Date - Bath Philharmonia Orchestra

Plymouth Young Carers will be working with Bath Philharmonia Orchestra during the October half-term to create a musical performance. Bath Philharmonia managed to secure funding to come back to Plymouth so our young carers have the opportunity to be part of something amazing. Plymouth has been very fortunate to work alongside Bath Philharmonia over the last 4 years and they have supported our Young Carers to create thought provoking, tender, funny and joyous performances.

Bath Philharmonia is a professional orchestra based in Bath. They have been working with Young Carers for 10 years and are the only orchestra in the UK working in this sector. In 2019 Bath Philharmonia was nominated for The Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Impact (the Oscars of the orchestral world), for its work with Young Carers.

See links below for more information and past performances:

Young Carer's 'PAUSE' - YouTube

Creative Learning | Bath Philharmonia

Please contact Kerry Powell-Tuckett if you would like to attend the performance.

kerry.powell-tuckett@plymouth.gov.uk

Sunday 12^th November

Time: 4pm

Venue: Barbican Theatre