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Crossroads Young Carers Cowal & Bute
61-63 Argyll Street, Dunoon
Argyll, PA23 7HG
Tel: 01369 707700
Mobile:
Email: carers@crossroadscowalandbute.org.uk
I think it’s great to have a presence with Young Carers being in our area the
team has always been very friendly and welcoming, as well as open to the
possibilities of how we can work together. We have had a number of visits
and presentations from Mags, sharing important information about Young
Carers to our students who, even if they are not young carers themselves,
will be working in a field in which they might need to be able to identify
vulnerable young people and try to find the appropriate support.
I will definitely look to invite Mags back to speak to students in the next
academic year as I believe this is a valuable resource for our students to
learn about. I have also taken the opportunity to refer a young person onto
the project in the hope that they might be able to provide this person with
some support – this isn’t something I could have done in the past as there
was no service available in the area.
Learning Centre Manager, Argyll College
A number of our pupils have benefited from the support the Young
Carers Group offers. We have pupils with a variety of support needs who
all have someone at home who is ill or requires care.
Pupil A is much happier in school now. She is escorted to and from school
by Education Transport. She attends weekly support sessions and enjoys
these. She seems more confident.
Pupil B is beginning to behave better in school. Young Carer Staff have
worked closely with this boy and his mum. The child has been supported
to understand a bit more about his mum’s condition and not to burden
worries alone. He also attends the weekly support session and really
enjoys the social interaction. It is early days but the support is really
beginning to impact.
Pupil C was so excited to become involved with Young Carers and was
constantly asking when they were visiting the school. Young Carers have
been working with mum too, supporting both to ensure Pupil C is feeling
more confident.
Kirn PS has a clear picture of the additional needs in our school. Young
Carers offers support which other organisations are unable to provide.
This means that Kirn PS staff are in a position to recognise our young
carers and the pressures they may experience. It also enables us to open
up conversations with parents and offer support where before may have
gone under the radar.
Staff member are approachable and always helpful. This has been a real
support and we look forward to the group helping more young people.
Headteacher, Primary School, Cowal
Crossroads Young Carers have been
great for my 11 year old son. They give
him a break from his brother who is
very hard work, most of the time.
They give him a chance to switch off
from the tensions at home, have fun.
We know he is well looked after by
Mags and Mo, who are great with the
young carers.
Parent, Bute
Crossroads Young Carers
have been brilliant for my 2
children who look after their
disabled brother. It gives
them the chance to do
activities and fun things that
they very rarely are able to do
at home because of their
brothers high care needs. It
also provides them with the
opportunity to meet other
children who are in similar
situations. Peer support is
essential for their emotional
wellbeing.
Parent, Cowal
I would say that Crossroads Young Carers has opened eyes to the needs of
many children that had gone unnoticed. After class based workshops run
by the group, pupils now understand the many different forms that caring
can take and have been able to self-reflect on possible caring roles within
their own homes. This has prompted pupils to come forward and receive
support to enable them to share their experiences, discuss the help they
give and discuss ways in which the Young Carers service can help them.
A regular drop-in club at school has made the service very accessible.
The biggest impact has come from the staff themselves who are very
approachable, relate extremely well with young people and communicate
clearly with partners.
Senior Depute, Primary School, Bute
Over the last year, we have had children directly involved with the Young Carers
project in Cowal, and the whole school has had class presentations on what a
carer is, and how we can support them.
The Young Carers team provide a significant and vital support for some
vulnerable children, with 1-1 one encouragement and in providing space and time
for them to enjoy young life without the pressures of caring and the caring
environment, or being second to the needs of siblings etc..
This work has had a real impact on these young people and has addressed health
and wellbeing needs that school cannot meet on its own. We are very grateful to
the big lottery for the funding that enables Crossroads and to Cross roads staff for
providing such a valuable experience and support for our students.
Headteacher, Primary School, Cowal
The young carers project is a lifeline for some of the young people I work
with. Having a space where they feel loved, respected, safe and where they
can take some time to focus on their own needs is incredibly positive. I
think it also helps Mags that the project has staff like yourself who bring
immense positivity to the young people’s lives but also that you clearly have
great respect for the responsibilities that they have to live with.
My experience so far is that you guys are an absolutely vital resource for our
young people.
Social Worker, Cowal
The class conversations helped me to understand what a young carer is
Young person, anonymous, Cowal
Anonymous letters and feedback from Family, Friends and Professionals
Crossroads Young Carers have been
great for my 11 year old son. They give
him a break from his brother who is
very hard work, most of the time.
They give him a chance to switch off
from the tensions at home, have fun.
We know he is well looked after by
Mags and Mo, who are great with the
young carers.
I think it’s great to have a presence with Young Carers being in our area –
the team has always been very friendly and welcoming, as well as open to
the possibilities of how we can work together. We have had a number of
visits and presentations from Mags, sharing important information about
Young Carers to our students who, even if they are not young carers
themselves, will be working in a field in which they might need to be able
to identify vulnerable young people and try to find the appropriate support.
I will definitely look to invite Mags back to speak to students in the next
academic year as I believe this is a valuable resource for our students to
learn about. I have also taken the opportunity to refer a young person onto
the project in the hope that they might be able to provide this person with
some support – this isn’t something I could have done in the past as there
was no service available in the area.
A number of our pupils have benefited from the support the Young Carers Group
offers. We have pupils with a variety of support needs who all have someone at
home who is ill or requires care.
Pupil A is much happier in school now. She is escorted to and from school by
Education Transport. She attends weekly support sessions and enjoys these. She
seems more confident.
Pupil B is beginning to behave better in school. Young Carer Staff have worked
closely with this boy and his mum. The child has been supported to understand a
bit more about his mum’s condition and not to burden worries alone. He also
attends the weekly support session and really enjoys the social interaction. It is
early days but the support is really beginning to impact.
Pupil C was so excited to become involved with Young Carers and was constantly
asking when they were visiting the school. Young Carers have been working with
mum too, supporting both to ensure Pupil C is feeling more confident.
Kirn PS has a clear picture of the additional needs in our school. Young Carers
offers support which other organisations are unable to provide. This means that
Kirn PS staff are in a position to recognise our young carers and the pressures
they may experience. It also enables us to open up conversations with parents
and offer support where before may have gone under the radar.
Staff member are approachable and always helpful. This has been a real support
and we look forward to the group helping more young people.
Over the last year, we have had children directly involved with the Young
Carers project in Cowal, and the whole school has had class presentations on
what a carer is, and how we can support them.
The Young Carers team provide a significant and vital support for some
vulnerable children, with 1-1 one encouragement and in providing space and
time for them to enjoy young life without the pressures of caring and the
caring environment, or being second to the needs of siblings etc..
This work has had a real impact on these young people and has addressed
health and wellbeing needs that school cannot meet on it’s own. We are very
grateful to the big lottery for the funding that enables Crossroads and to Cross
roads staff for providing such a valuable experience and support for our
students
Crossroads Young Carers have been brilliant for my 2 children who look after
their disabled brother. It gives them the chance to do activities and fun things
that they very rarely are able to do at home because of their brothers high care
needs. It also provides them with the opportunity to meet other children who
are in similar situations. Peer support is essential for their emotional wellbeing.
The young carers project is a lifeline for some of the young people I work with.
Having a space where they feel loved, respected, safe and where they can take
some time to focus on their own needs is incredibly positive. I think it also
helps Mags that the project has staff like yourself who bring immense
positivity to the young people’s lives but also that you clearly have great
respect for the responsibilities that they have to live with.
My experience so far is that you guys are an absolutely vital resource for our
young people
The young carers project is a lifeline for some of the young people I work with.
Having a space where they feel loved, respected, safe and where they can take
some time to focus on their own needs is incredibly positive. I think it also helps
Mags that the project has staff like yourself who bring immense positivity to the
young people’s lives but also that you clearly have great respect for the
responsibilities that they have to live with.
My experience so far is that you guys are an absolutely vital resource for our young
people
The class
conversations
helped me to
understand
what a young
carer is
A few letters with feedback from Family, Friends and Professionals