YOUNG CARERS DAY OUT 2015

YOUNG CARERS DAY OUT 2015

  The annual Day Out is a combined initiative jointly funded by Oldham Rotary Club with Chadderton and Failsworth.  It fulfills the same objective as the national Kids Day Out.

The children and teenagers are members of the Oldham Young Carers Project, under the auspices of Positive Steps which provides advice, guidance and weekly activities for the eight to sixteen years olds who look after a parent, sibling, family member or close friend who have a disability or long term illness.

  The care they give may be practical, physical or emotional and involves everything from shopping for food, cooking and cleaning to showering and/or dressing.

  The day out, on Tuesday 25th August was to the 280 acre Drayton Manor Theme Park and Zoo, Staffordshire, and includes transport, admission, food and a small gift.

  Speaking with the children, the Mayor of Oldham Councilor Ateeque Ur-Reham revealed how in his youth he was a  young carer.  Positive Steps Chief Executive Steph Bolshaw explained that many of the children were nervous and concerned because they had never been on a motor coach or a trip before.  They were also worried about how the person they were responsible for would nonage without them.

  About 40 were involved in the visit, this included a team of 7 from Positive Steps who looked after them.  The coach was about 15 minutes late in leaving, one of the children had aproblem at home.  A taxi was dispatched and he was then able to enjoy the trip.