Gary Cooke has this week launched his Found A Pound appeal in aid of his chosen charities, which support Kent’s young carers.
They are children and young people who provide unpaid care for a parent, sibling, family member or friend living with an illness, disability, mental health condition or addiction.
They help with practical tasks, personal care and emotional support. Frequently young carers do not recognise themselves as such, yet they make sacrifices while enabling those they care for to get on with their lives.
There are in the region of 8,500 known young carers in Kent, but potentially a further 30,000 more children or young people who are carers with all the associated responsibilities and struggles, but without the support that charities like the Imago Kent Young Carers service and Crossroads Care Kent can provide.
Both ensure there is wellbeing support for young carers between the ages of five and 18 while also offering activities, social clubs and respite holidays and working with professionals to identify young carers and unlock the support available to them.
“We are raising much-needed funds to reach more young carers so we can provide support and opportunities for them to relax, just be children for a while and have some fun.”
Mr Cooke said: “When I was elected Chairman, I made a commitment that we would do all we could to ensure Kent young carers know they are not on their own. I want to be able to say we have done something to make their lives better and Found A Pound will play a large part in helping us to do that.
“We are both raising awareness so the wider community has a grasp of the impact of caring on these young people and therefore what support and understanding they need in return, and then also much needed funds to reach more of these young carers so we can provide support and opportunities for them to relax, just be children for a while and have some fun.”
He continued: “We are all extremely appreciative of the fact that times are really tough at the moment, especially as we approach Christmas with all the financial pressure that can bring. However, the idea behind Found A Pound is for those who can afford to lose a pound or two without really missing it to donate to my charities.
“We have nearly 2 million people living in Kent and it would only take one person in 10 to donate a pound and there would be £200,000 with which Imago and Crossroads could make a huge difference to the lives of our young carers.
“If you can, please be the one to donate and help our young carers.”
Further information
To donate £1 or more please visit www.kent.gov.uk/donatetocharities
