It is Young Carers Awareness Day on 28 January 2016. We are raising awareness for all young carers but specifically of the children and young people who may be caring for a parent or grandparent living with MND.

Research shows that young carers miss out on lots of opportunities socially due to the pressures of their caring roles. They can also experience problems keeping up with school work and missing school whilst caring for a relative. How can you get involved to raise awareness of the young carers in your area who are affected by someone living with MND?

Here are some ideas about how to get involved Find out about the children and young people in your area who are providing care for a parent or grandparent living with MND. Offer information about the support, resources and services that the Association can provide.

If you need support about what information and resources the Association offers to support young carers you can contact the MND Connect helpline to find out more.

Contact your local newspaper and ask them to run a story about young carers, particularly if you know of a young person in your area who is would like to get involved. The newspaper could feature “a day in the life of a young carer or young adult carer”, for example.

Contact your local radio and ask what they are doing to highlight young carers day.

Link up with a local school and offer to do a school assembly or to do a short talk to help raise awareness of the day and the issues a young carer of someone with MND might experience, and signpost them to the Young Carers in Schools programme via the Carers Trust www.carers.org.uk

Throw the gauntlet down to your MP or local councillor – ask them what they are doing to ensure that young carers don’t miss out on life – get them to make a commitment of one thing they will do.

Find out about your local young carers organisation and what they provide to support young carers of people with MND in your area.

Please show your support for all young carers this month and especially on the 28 January 2016. Help to bring young carers into the spotlight.

Many thanks for your support on behalf of all young carers living with and caring for someone with MND.

Copied from an E-mail?from Karen Welsenaer, Children and Young People, Development Manager. karen.welsenaer@mndassociation.org