On Friday 15th June, SYC was invited to attend the opening of Whirlow Hall Farm Trust Education Centre. Also in attendance was none other than Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg who was there to do the official opening.

Whirlow Hall Farm Trust are supporting young carers in Sheffield by hosting and part-funding our summer residentials this year, which will give up to 40 young carers the chance to attend forest school/outdoor activity breaks over three residentials during the summer holidays.

Gaby, a young carer who is a member of SYC and Chilypep’s VOYCE group (Views of Young Carers Explained), attended their opening event alongside SYC manager Liz Church and had the chance to meet Mr Clegg and give him some information about the work that the VOYCE group are doing to raise the profile of young carers in the city.

Here's what Gaby had to say about the day:

“Me and Liz went to Whirlow Hall Farm for the opening of their new education building. When I met Liz that afternoon she said I was going to be the first young carer in the building and the first from SYC/VOYCE to meet Nick Clegg. I was quite excited.

When we got there, there were lots of people all dressed smartly and looking really professional. The people who were there for the official opening all had something to do with the building. I got quite nervous when Liz introduced me to some of the councillors. 

I spoke to some of the Whirlow Hall workers and I explained to them what VOYCE is and how it got set up. When Nick Clegg got there, we had a small presentation about the building and what it offers to young people. Some of the students who were the first people to use the building were there and we saw pictures of what they did. They also talked about wanting to work with young carers and the SYC residentials in the summer. It sounds like so much fun !!

Nick Clegg then went to unveil the plaque and declared the building open. Just before he went, me and Liz managed to speak to him about SYC and VOYCE and I also gave him one of our information packs. Nick Clegg said we were AMAZING!!!!

When I spoke to Nick Clegg I was nervous because compared to him I'm tiny so I had to look up at him and he's the Deputy Prime Minister :) The afternoon went really well and the new building is FABULOUS!!!! I'm looking forward to the residential in summer now :) ”