Sport Aberdeen was delighted to recently receive £36,000 of funding from the Carers Strategy Implementation Group via the Aberdeen Health & Social Care Partnership. 

The funding went towards recruiting a full-time project activator at the beginning of March to kickstart the programme, where the charity’s Active Schools team will be working closely alongside Barnando’s to deliver the sessions.

The need for the sessions was identified through the Carers Strategy Implementation Group (CSIG) at Aberdeen City Council – this group is lead by ACHSCP.

The project will look to emulate the popular and successful SPACE (Supported Physical Activity for Care Experienced) programme already run by Active Schools, which aims to improve the lives of local care experienced children and young people through sport and physical activity.

The Young Carer’s Initiative will instead target young carers by offering extracurricular sessions in Woodside, Westpark, and other local schools.

By definition, a young carer is under 18 years old and helps to look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem. A young carer could be looking after a parent or a sibling.

The new sessions will allow young carers to enjoy participating in sport and physical activity, either in a one-to-one setting or small group environment. Young carers will be able to choose the activities they participate in.

Katrina Carr, Lead Active Schools Coordinator said: “It is very exciting to launch our programme to support young carers in Aberdeen thanks to extensive partnership working with Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership (ACHSCP) and Barnardo’s.

“The programme will adopt a child-centred approach, ensuring that the young people are the voice of the support they receive and can choose the activities they wish to participate in.

“This new project adds to the work that our Active Schools team has already established with young carers across the city. It will be great to see the positive impact that providing opportunities through sport and physical activity will have on the young people’s wellbeing.”