Fun event being held for Melksham young carers

A free event is taking place in Melksham next week to provide a host of fun activities for local young carers to thank them for their vital work in the community.

The event, funded by Wiltshire Council's Melksham Area Board, and arranged in partnership with Youth Action Wiltshire, is taking place on Saturday 3 December from 11am - 3pm at Melksham Community Campus.

The event is to recognise the vital and challenging work that young carers, aged from 5 to 18, play in the Melksham community area.

Registered young carers in the Melksham community area are invited to take part in a range of activities including swimming, circus skills, basketball, as well as a host of library sessions too. Helping people to keep physically, socially and mentally active is a priority of Wiltshire Council's Business Plan.

Cllr Phil Alford, Chairman of Melksham Area Board, said: "We are delighted to be able to put on this event and I thank both Action Wiltshire and Carer Support for working with us to make it happen. Providing a fun few hours is the least we can do to say thanks to the carers for all they do and for taking on such responsibility on their young shoulders.

"Young carers have to grow up a lot quicker than their peers but we hope our event helps them relax and enjoy themselves, providing a bit of respite from some of their day-to-day pressures. We will look into other opportunities to host events like this."

Dawn Whiting from Wiltshire Young Carers Service, which is a service provided by Youth Action Wiltshire, the youth arm of Wiltshire charity Community First said: "We are really grateful to Melksham Area Board for prioritising young carers and facilitating a day for them which will not only provide respite from their caring role, but also enable them to access this wonderful, brand new facility. We will make sure that everyone present has a great time and thoroughly enjoys this opportunity". 

Wiltshire Young Carers Service currently holds 916 open young carer cases across Wiltshire, they provide support planning, coaching, mentoring and respite activities for young people with a significant caring role, aged 5-18 years.

A young adult carers event is also being organised for March 2023, to be run by Carer Support and funded by the Melksham Area Board. This is planned to take place during Young Carers Awareness Week, and more information will be available on this in due course.