MYTime Young Carers have successfully made it through to the second round of the Aviva Community Fund and have launched an Aviva Community Fund Crowdfunding page in a bid to fund their soon to be launched School Support Programme.
The School Support Programme seeks to encourage schools to review their provision for young carers and is designed to radically improve a young carer’s educational experience and outcomes.
MYTime Executive Director Krista Sharp said, “It’s all about raising awareness of young carers within their school communities, helping schools to identify and more effectively support their young carers, and, ultimately making sure young carers have everything they need to be happy and successful in their education and beyond.
“A young carer is a child aged between 5 and 18, who is responsible for looking after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition or drug and alcohol problem. Young carers juggle a huge number of responsibilities and, as a result, achieve, on average, 9 grades lower overall at GCSE than their peers.
“We really hope that the public will come on board with this Crowdfunding Appeal and help us achieve our ambitions and make huge changes to the lives of young carers. The programme’s launch will coincide with the reopening of schools post-lockdown, when young carers are likely to need more support than ever.
“Aviva employees will be supporting their chosen charities within the Community crowdfunding initiative and contributing to our fundraising target of £20,000. The charity will need the support of the wider community, however, if we are to reach our fundraising target.”
For more information and to make a pledge, visit https://avivacommunityfund.co.uk/young-carers-school-support-programme
About MYTime Young Carers’ Charity
MyTime exists to provide young carers with the support, friendship and opportunities that all children deserve. Since its foundation, the charity has worked to organise fun activity days and weekend retreats at its outdoor centre in Worth Matravers, Dorset. These events create opportunities for young carers to experience new things, take some time for themselves and feel part of a community. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the MYTime team have been supporting young carers online and delivering food shopping to those most in need.