Partnership helping young carers in West Sussex ‘highly commended’

Emma Capon (WSCC Young Carers Family Resource Service), Lorraine Butcher (WSCC Young Carers Family Resource Service), Emma Connor (Your Space Therapies), Suzanne Ryan (Your Space Therapies) SUS-150312-150603001

West Sussex Young Carers Service and Your Space Therapies Partnership were ‘highly commended’ at The Children and Young People Now Awards at London’s Hurlingham Club on Thursday November 27, which was hosted by children’s author and CBeebies presenter Cerrie Burnell.

The service was recognised in the Young Carers Award category, which looked for the team that has done the most to support children, young people or young adults who care for a family member or friend with an illness, disability, mental health problem or addiction.

Peter Evans, West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for children – start of life, said: “To receive this accolade from an entry list of many hundreds is a fantastic achievement by the West Sussex Young Carers Family Resource Service and Your Space Therapies Partnership.

Peter Evans, Annie McIver, Catherine Mouatt, Lorraine Butcher SUS-150312-150613001

“This national recognition highlights the excellent work our family support workers and counsellors do for our young carers.”

The services ensures that young carers receive the support they need through counselling and play therapy to improve their self-esteem, emotional wellbeing, and their ability to cope with the pressures of being a young carer.

Over the past four years the partnership has funded 1,300 counselling or play therapy sessions across West Sussex.

From these sessions 96 per cent reported an improvement in their emotional wellbeing, 86 per cent reported an improvement in their self-esteem, and 100 per cent of teachers of young carers noticed an improvement in their school behaviour.

Suzanne Ryan (Your Space Therapies), Lorraine Butcher (WSCC Young Carers Family Resource Service), Emma Connor (Your Space Therapies) SUS-150312-150552001

To find out more about young carers call 01903 270300, email [email protected] or search ‘young carers’ on www.westsussex.gov.uk

To find out more about Your Space Therapies counselling call Suzanne Ryan on 01903 209991 or email [email protected]

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