Young Carers Appeal Launch!

Can you help local young carers to take a break?

To mark Carers Week 2025, an appeal to help ensure that local young carers get to be a child and take a break this summer, launches today.

Every day this summer, thousands of children like Jamie, from all over our county will be missing their childhoods to take care of parents or siblings. We know that in East Sussex, children as young as five provide emotional care to family members, and many children also undertake physical care.  

Jamie is eleven. He lives with his mum and brother near Hastings.

Jamie is one of up to 8,000 young carers in East Sussex. For children like Jamie, summer doesn’t mean a carefree holiday. It means continuing to care for loved ones, every day, while their friends enjoy the break.

Once a month Jamie goes to a Young Carers Club run by Care for the Carers. It’s a place he can relax, play games, and most of all, just be a child. Over the past three years, Jamie has come to Young Carers Club every month. We’ve seen him change from a quiet, withdrawn boy, into a confident young man, a real bundle of energy.  

But we need your help to keep the Young Carers Groups running. Can you help us to make a difference to young carers like Jamie?

Please take the time to read Jamie’s story on the appeal page