1. Youth Connexions Work with Young Carers November 2010 Jo Denton – District Manager Chris Taylor – Youth Support Worker in Charge

2. Current Provision 7 targeted positive activities projects Other projects with identified staff to support young carers Beginning to integrate young carers projects into other provision 6 community based One Stop Shops and Personal Advisers in schools and colleges

3. Contacts 283 young carers engaged by P.A.’s 284 young carers attended targetted positive activities 116 young carers achieved recorded outcomes 46 young carers achieved formal accreditation

4. Examples of work with young people One to one support of a young person in St Albans Care to Connect young carers group in Welwyn Garden City

5. PA support of a young carer School identified that young person was struggling but didn’t know why 1 st session assessment tool used Young person identified money as an issue Further questioning reveals mum has mental health issues and spends all the benefits on herself

6. P.A. Support 2 Young person opened up to someone outside of school – thought they wouldn’t understand PA helps young person explore how she feels about this Identify some practical solutions Make connections to others who can help

7. P.A. Support 3 Referral to Hertfordshire Young Carers Meeting with Head of Pastoral Care at school Funding from Princess Trust Emergency plan for dealing with when things are difficult at home Further support from P.A.

8. C2C – Care to Connect Need for group identified from Young Carers in Hertfordshire and young people known to youth workers Targeted at 13-19 year olds For young people in Welwyn Hatfield at Monks Walk Youth Centre

9. C 2 C Project Aims Social network within the community Develop as young people Be independent from caring role Participate in Positive Activities Make informed decisions Recognise their development and achievements

10. C 2 C Young people design programme Recent event - Fancy Dress Oscars Performances by young people to family, friends, staff and visitors Recognition of young peoples achievements – both in the group and as individuals Confidence of young people enabling them to integrate into other youth projects in the area

11. Issues to overcome YOF funding for groups finishes in March Need continued funding/sustainable transport to enable young carers to attend Profile raising of young carers in schools and with other professionals

12. Future work Youth Connexions Hertfordshire is committed to providing ongoing support to vulnerable groups of young people Seek to provide Positive Activities across the County for Young Carers Combining Young Carers projects in close geographic proximity and hosting young carers projects in existing projects to maximise resources are key

13. Questions