A pal for young carers to turn to


18 November 2006 12:20

Young carers are being given the opportunity to make new friends via their mobile phones in a pilot scheme aimed at giving them vital extra support.

Norfolk County Council is launching a 'text pal' scheme and is looking for 14- to 18-year-old volunteers from Norfolk to take part. Once trained, their profiles will go on the county council's website for young people, www.norfolkblurb.co.uk, and they can choose a pal on the website. The carers will be from the South Norfolk area.

Last month the Evening News revealed that more than 2,000 youngsters, some as young as five, have to act as a carer for their parents or siblings.

The Norwich and District Carers' Forum, which supports more than 250 children aged five to 13, said the number of children taking on carer roles had risen dramatically in recent years. This is mainly because of a reduction in support from the state and an increasing number of adults suffering ill health.

Tom Gaskin, Norfolk Blurb project co-ordinator, said: “Some young carers find it hard to make or keep in contact with friends and, sometimes, when they need a friend to talk to, there may not be anyone there.

“Text pal will support them to make new friends. We decided to hold the pilot in South Norfolk because we have a youth beacon project up and running there, jointly with South Norfolk Council.”

Rosalie Monbiot, county council cabinet member for Children's Services added: “We know some young carers feel isolated and the more support we can offer them, the better. I hope this will make a real difference to the lives of the young people who get involved.”

Sallie Boyd, 44, who set up Connects + Co with her son and daughter Keith Emes-Ellis, 17, and Connie Emes-Ellis 19, to provide support for young carers, also praised the pilot scheme.

Keith and Connie, from New Catton, were joint winners of an Evening News Local Heroes award in 2002, winning praise for the way they cared for their disabled brother, sister and mother.

Mrs Boyd, who has ME, said: “A text scheme is an ideal way for young people nowadays because it's a modern form of communication. For youngsters isolated in caring roles at home it's the perfect way to have contact with the outside world. There are a lot of youngsters in rural areas who cannot get support and struggle to have any kind of relationship outside home.”

The project is part of the county's My Norfolk bid for the £7m Digital Challenge, a national competition sponsored by the Department for Community and Local Government to find the UK's most digitally inclusive community.