Young Carers Festival returns for a twelfth year
- Written by: Hannah Martin — Carers Trust — Youth Engagement Officer
- Published: 18th July 2019
The Scottish Young Carers Festival remains a highlight of the young carer events calendar in Scotland.
Coming together to have fun, meet new people and enjoy time away from caring responsibilities – a time to be a child or young person – is as important for young carers in 2019 as it was when the Scottish Young Carers Festival began.
A long year of planning activity is coming to a close. The visits to young carers services to find out what they look forward to most at the Scottish Young Carers Festival are complete. The months of planning slowly begin to take a festival shape. And now with days to go, the plans take final shape. The exciting activities are booked and the site is ready for happy campers. Between ice cream, abseiling and visiting exotic animals, there is something for everyone to take part in, for everyone to have fun.
Fun is perhaps one of the most important ingredients in the Scottish Young Carers Festival (this link will take you away from our website) mixture, but for many of the young people who attend, the chance to make their voice heard is a just as important factor. The Consultation Space, a warm and welcoming area of the festival will allow young people the chance to contemplate the carefully curated questions and give their thoughts and opinions. The Consultation Space seeks not just to understand the most important issues to young carers, but the ways in which their everyday lives are impacted by these issues. Being able to answer anonymously will allow young people freedom to share their personal opinions, while allowing young people space and time to think through their answers will allow a depth of understanding for practitioners and decision makers.
For those young people that enjoy the immediacy of putting their questions direct to decision makers, there is the opportunity to meet key Scottish Government Ministers, MSP’s and local government, health, social work and education staff. The political speed chat event will allow young people to speak with a range of key individuals who have the ability to make changes to their everyday lives.
This year, another window into the experience of young carers will be provided through the Media Ambassador team. Six young people working closely with an organisation – Media Education – have had their camera and interview training, ready to capture footage of the festival as well as the experiences of their peers. Last year, this group presented at the Carers Parliament, and we are optimistic that this year will provide just as many opportunities for the Media Ambassadors.
The Scottish Young Carer Festival (this link will take you away from our website) is full of excitement and freedom, where young people enjoy a deserved break away from caring responsibilities. But the event remembers the opportunity this gives young people to raise their voices, making accessible, appropriate and person-centred consultation an important part of the three days.
End of page.
You may also like:
A child cannot truly feel safe in a school or community if they do not feel that they belong.
Continue readingFor 20 years, The ALLIANCE has listened to member voices to help protect and improve Scotland's care services.
Continue readingWith the ALISS Customisable Map Tool, organisations can share info about community resources in ways that work for the people they support.
Continue readingIrene Mackintosh, CEO at Mhor Collective shares highlights and hopes for rights in a digital age.
Continue readingIn her latest TFN column, our Chief Officer Sara Redmond reflects on the proposal to collapse Scotland's 14 regional health boards into two.
Continue readingWhen we listen to lived experience, we create better resources, challenge assumptions and help create safer communities for everyone.
Continue readingGozie reflects on supporting citizen engagement, digital inclusion and hopes for the future.
Continue readingDCP member and Project Co-ordinator Esther Misajel shares Pachedu's journey towards digital inclusion.
Continue readingChris Mackie, Director of Digital, reflects on what ALISS has achieved so far this year and shares what is still to come.
Continue readingAt the ALLIANCE and beyond, true and meaningful policy reform means turning people's experiences into lasting action on the ground.
Continue readingGLP-1s can transform health but without adequate wraparound support, weight loss may come at the cost of nutrition, muscle and wellbeing.
Continue readingSheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, is appealing for support for proposals to restrict tobacco, vapes and nicotine products.
Continue readingBilly McClean reflects on why SCIC26 offers a vital opportunity to learn together, share what works, and shape the future of integrated care
Continue readingTo mark the ALLIANCE's 20 year anniversary Paul Okroj reflects on the importance of supported self management.
Continue readingTo mark Scottish Learning Disability Week (7 - 13 September), Bruce Adamson reflects on this year's call to action.
Continue readingIn her latest TFN column, our Chief Officer Sara Redmond reflects on the current state of social care in Scotland.
Continue readingKicking off September for the ALLIANCE's 20 year anniversary, Grace reflects on the Self Management Programme
Continue readingSara Redmond, ALLIANCE Chief Officer, on the priorities for 2026's Programme for Government.
Continue readingSandra Auld reflects on the ALLIANCE's people focused impact, collaboration, lived experience, campaigns and lasting change in Scotland.
Continue readingMark shares his experience with gambling harms, and how this intersected with the launch of the ALLIANCE's ScotRGH programme in 2020.
Continue readingProfessor Anna Glasier celebrates 20 years of the ALLIANCE and it's vital role in shaping the Women's Health Plan for Scotland.
Continue readingSara Redmond, ALLIANCE Chief Officer, on the challenges faced by community-led health organisations in delivering prevention.
Continue readingAnnie shares her experience of youth politics, and how SAFE has helped her make connections and makes sense of the world of politics.
Continue readingChloe Craig reflects on how we have helped connect Scotland’s lived experience voice to conversations happening beyond our borders.
Continue readingDr Irene Oldfather reflects on two decades of growth, collaboration, and person centred impact across Scotland and beyond.
Continue reading