Another month done, another SYC blog! This has been a SUPER exciting month for SYC, so we thought we'd do a quick February catch-up blog so you can all see what we've been up to as we slowly but surely approach Spring.
So, February started well for SYC, as we received the news that our wonderful Family Project had secured funding for The National Lottery Community Fund up until 2027! Our Family Project means so much to so many and is a massive part of what we do. Our Family Project does so much work with families in which there is a young carer to help reduce the caring responsibilities, through helping the rest of the family. So, as you can probably imagine, we were all delighted to know this work will continue happening.
We have had some excellent fundraisers this month too. Our February started off with a visit to The Innerwheel Club of Abbeydale for lunch and a presentation about who we are. We were then the beneficiary charity at a concert by the Westside Singers who sung and sold cakes to raise funds for us! Then Hybrid studios held a party night raising funds for us, and we also recently just received a fantastic donation from Mansell Primary School who had a bake sale. We'd like to take the chance to thank all of those who have fundraised and donated to SYC this month.
Next up, we had a very special visit from a group of young adult carers, researchers and practitioners all the way from Japan! Our Japanese guests spent two days with us, learning about young carers policy and practice here in Sheffield and the UK. During their visit, our guests got the opportunity to meet some of the young people and parents that we work with, and our staff and trustees, as well as charity patron and local MP Paul Blomfield and the Lord Mayor of Sheffield Sioned-Mair Richards. Through all the different meetings, presentations and discussions, lots was learnt and everyone had an amazing time meeting each other. It was just a shame that they couldn't stay with us for longer!
We finish this blog off with our half-term holiday activities. During school holidays we try to give young people a break and have some fun. This time, we went to a climbing hangar where young people could build their confidence and test their climbing skills. We also had a visit to Hybrid3 Studios who hosted us for another fantastic session where young people had the chance to get creative and learn new skills writing and recording their very own 'Storybomb' radio play. Thanks to everyone who came along and made the activities as fun as they were, as well as the venues and staff who facilitated our visits!
If you’d like to write a blog for our website, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re a young carer now, you used to be a young carer yourself, you are supported by a young carer or you want to discuss important topics around young carers, all young carer blogs will be considered. As part of our 25th anniversary celebrations, we want to post at least one blog/vlog once a month, so there is plenty of opportunity to get involved. Please get in touch with Nick by email - Nick.Hardwick@sheffieldyoungcarers.uk