cycling challenge organised by the Bromley Youth Support Programme. The aim was for teams of young people from across the borough to be involved in cycling the distance from Lands End to John O’Groats (840 miles) in one day, on exercise bikes. The CLUB 358 team managed a respectable 19.2km in the 55 minute slot and celebrated with a well -earned drink and Kripsy Kreme doughnut! Thanks to all of those who took part.

We had exclusive use of the huge soft-play area which was filled with climbing frames, soft balls and various obstacles! The large slides created lots of competition, with the young carers always in the lead over the adults! They had the space to play, meet new friends and enjoy their own adventures. It was a very entertaining evening, filled with much noise and excitement,

Young carers are young people who live in a family where someone is affected by a long term illness, disability, mental health issue, alcohol or substance misuse or HIV. The Young Carers Service supports young carers aged 4 – 18 years.

Issue 47, Summer 2013

“Ahoy!”Seven young carers enjoyed a slightly overcast weekend aboard the Cambria Trust Sailing Barge. They sailed from Gravesend and enjoyed learning all aspects of sailing the vessel. Young carers were divided into two watches and they undertook allocated sailing activities and/or below deck housekeeping tasks. They even managed without their mobiles whilst on deck!

Keep in touchCarers Bromley has its own Facebook and Twitter pages. If you would like to receive up to date information and you are aged over 13 years, please take a look.

VOICE YC needs YOU!The Young Carers Forum, VOICE YC, made a triumphant return after a winter hiatus. This was an opportunity for carers just like YOU to have their say about services offered by Carers Bromley. The idea for the drop-in health sessions was developed in this very meeting! If you would like to have your say about how the Young Carers Service provides support to young people, the forum is a great way to do it! To join, contact Tracey Parry, Young Carers Services Manager, on 0800 015 7700.

Keeping SafeA great big thank you to all those young carers who attended the latest Heath Wise session covering the topic of ‘Keeping Safe’. Alana Wells and Jan Wells from Bromley Woman’s Aid came along to talk about domestic violence in families and relationships. We watched a DVD and had a question and answer session, discussing different scenarios and how to deal with them.We had a great selection of healthy snacks including toasted fruit bread –yum- and found some free time at the end for us to use the Wii. You belted out some great songs on Wii Sing! What a bunch of talented singers we have, staff excluded !! !!

Social MediaThe social media health session, facilitated by Jeanne Gregory, from Bromley’s Health Improvement Service, covered how to keep yourself safe when using friendship sites online and when using mobile devices. The young carers showed great maturity and insight in discussing and debating. Each young carer came up with a crafty way to keep safe online.In the break after the discussion, the young carers tried spicy bean hummus and even those who weren’t sure came back for seconds! Happy and safe texting to you all:-P

Chilling Out – YogaTen young carers got to

experience how to chill out – yoga

style! Fran Flin from Flins Fitness

taught the young carers a variety

of yoga poses – including the

‘downward facing dog pose!’ Lots

of new skills were learnt in

this yoga taster session,

including ways on how to

de-stress. At the end of

the health session, the

young carers felt they had

been fully stretched and

also enjoyed some healthy

snacks.

What could you get from a Carers Bromley’s Health Wise Session?

Great advice and tips on a range of topics A chance to meet other young carers Time away from your caring role A time to de-stress A chat with the team

A friendly and safe environment to talk Lovely healthy snacks to enjoy A chance to relax A personalised invitation sent to your door

Sessions are geared at 10 – 18 year olds and are held monthly so, you can stay in touch with everyone at Carers Bromley!

Come on, be a wise owl and when your invitation drops through your door,

book your place on our next healthwise sessionWhat have you got to lose????

If you have an idea for a health wise session, why not give us a call? We would love to hear from you and, you never know,

your idea could become a health session for the future. Call Lorraine Porter, Young Carers Support Worker, on 0800 015 7700.

Health Wise session updates

Club 358Peer support group for all young, adult carers aged 16 – 24 years.

The group will be a safe place where young adult carers can receive emotional support, information and advice from other young carers and a staff member. Each session will be confidential and the young people will be able to share as much, or as little, information as they feel is comfortable.The sessions are held on the fourth Tuesday of every month.

To book your place, please phone 0800 015 7700 or text 07908 063331.

Honeypot Holiday – Buzzing with the BeesTwelve young carers travelled to Southampton in the Honeypot minibus for their Honeypot Charity holiday. The young carers got to enjoy

organised activities, outdoor games, arts and crafts, bouncing on the trampoline and

even dressing up! A young carer said “I love coming to Honeypot because I love playing with the friends I have made and the staff are very nice. The activities are good and it gives a break for me and my mum”. Another young carer said that the Honeypot holiday was “the best place ever!”.

British Music ExperienceThanks to the Co-operative, six young adult carers enjoyed a day at the 02 Arena. Smart cards were given to the young people to enable them to save the best parts of their 60 year journey through the many eras of sound. The event had over 3,000 images, 600 video clips, 3,000 artists’ videos and over 600 items of artist and music memorabilia.They viewed Freddie Mercury’s stage jacket and trousers, the Union Jack dress worn by Gerri Halliwell, John Lennons glasses and Amy Whitehouse’s vintage dress. The Edge Zones showed them the British music’s influence on art, fashion and politics from 1945 to the present day. They also had the opportunity to undertake a ‘jammin sess’ in the interactive studio.

Top Scores for a Strike!In the spring holiday, twenty-seven young carers, aged 4-9 years, bowled at the Orpington Superbowl. Some young carers were seasoned professionals whilst for others it was their first ever trip to a bowling alley. The points came thick and fast especially for the young carers who used the trusty “elephant trunk “to roll the bowling balls to victory. Juice was drunk and friendships were made, all to the noise of a bazillion strikes!

Twenty-two young carers between the ages of ten and eighteen got to show off their bowling skills and talents too. Competition was fierce and there were certainly a few spectacular strikes! The young carers had much fun knocking bowling pins down and chatting to friends.

City Life

A group of young adult carers visited Goldman Sachs, an American Investment Bank, based in Fleet Street and had the opportunity to witness, first-hand, life on the trading floors. A number of carers who are employed by the bank shared their experience of being a working carer and explained the support the bank offered them as carers. The young adult carers also visited the lobby of the Daily Express building, which is a Grade II listed building designed in 1932 and is one of the most prominent examples of art-deco architecture in London. The day ended with everyone taking part in a trading game - adrenaline was rushing, excitement was felt, voices were heard and Carers Bromley’s YAC’s walked away with a £42,000 profit! If only it was real.

Reg. Charity No. 1067889Company No. 3479082

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Postcode Telephone No.The YCN is a newsletter that is keen to welcome points of view from young people. Therefore, the views expressed in this newsletter are those of the individual contributor and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Young Carers Forum, Young Carers or Carers Bromley. We welcome contributions whether letters, articles, cartoons, stories, jokes or poems. Please forward any contributions to Young Carers Service, FREEPOST RSEA-EHAG-EASY Carers Bromley, 2nd Floor, Caritas House, Tregony Road, Orpington, BR6 9XA

Thank you!Carers Bromley would like to thank the following people/organisations for their support and kind donations: Rotary of Bromley, Bullers Wood School, Royal Blackhealth Golf Club, Tesco in Orpington and Flins Fitness.

Carers Trust and Co-operative

Carers Trust is a charity that works with carers throughout the UK. This year the Co-operative Group chose Carers Trust as its charity of the year. About Time is a project being started from this partnership. About Time will run for 3 years and aims to raise £5million for young adult carers (that’s carers aged between 14 and 25). There are more than 475,000 young adult carers in the UK who are juggling the demands of education, employment, caring responsibilities and trying to squeeze in a social life on top of all that! About Time hopes to tackle some of the issues faced by young adult carers.

If you would like to know more please visit,www.co-operative.coop/charityoftheyear

Carers Bromley0800 015 7700

CLUB 358(16-24 years)07908 063331

YCnetwww.youngcarers.net

The Samaritans01689 833000

CHiLDLine0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk

fRAnK0800 776 600 or www.talktofrank.com

BypassBromley’s alcohol and substance service 0208 460 9952

USefUL nUmBeRS & WeBSiTeS

Who will listen to me?Sometimes we just need someone to talk to – someone who is not going to be judgmental but who will listen to how we are feeling, provide support, encouragement and feedback, as well as helping us to think about our future options.Our mentoring programme is designed to help you form a one-to-one relationship with a (Bromley Education Business Partnership trained) mentor in a way that will help you. You will get to know your mentor over a period of time and they will help you think about your own individual needs, helping you to take some time out from your caring role and to focus on yourself.Mentors will work with you openly and honestly, listening to you and sharing their experiences. They provide a safe and confidential space for you to discuss concerns and worries and they will help you to explore and work towards the things that you identify as important, setting realistic and achievable goals - all while undertaking a fun activity!A mentor could provide: Emotional support or the chance to off-load Information and encouragement Help to get involved in new activities and meeting new people Help to access opportunities in employment, education and training Help achieve a goal

If you think you might like to have a mentor, contact Tracey Parry, Young Carers Services Manager, on 0800 015 7700.