Gloucestershire Young Carers is a dynamic charity constantly growing and developing to meet the ever-changing needs of young carers in the county. We support children and young people caring for a family member who is ill, disabled, experiencing mental health or substance misuse.

We support young carers in Gloucestershire in reaching their potential, enabling them and their families to access support which minimises the physical and emotional impact of caring and promotes health and well-being. We support more than 1000 carers and their families.

Our History

1992 – A countywide multi-agency steering group was set up and successfully bid for funding
1993 – Appointment of a young carer’s Project Development worker Helen Predgen-Lay
1993 – Set up an office with adult carers at Community House
1994 – First group set up in a cafe in Stroud with 5 young carers
1994 – Young carers input and influence the Carers Recognition Act 1995
1997 – Becomes an ‘Independent Company Limited by Guarantee’
1997 – Successful lottery bid funding working with children under 12
2000 – Specialist services for young carers living with parents with mental ill health established
2002 – Gloucestershire Young Carers is awarded Charitable Status
2003 – ‘Our Voice’ Gloucestershire Young Carers Forum set up
2007 – Members of the Forum join the National Young Carers Forum
2008 – Young carers from Gloucestershire inform and influence the National Carers Strategy: Carers at the heart of 21^st Century Families
2010 – Development of whole family approach – keeping the young carer in focus
2010 – Specialist services for young carers living with parental with problematic substance misuse set up
2011 – Celebrated our 18th birthday with a host of the ‘great and good’ of Gloucestershire
2013 – Awarded a 3 year contract to provide carers’ services with Carers Gloucestershire
2014 – Overall winner of the GSK Impact Award scrutinized by with the King’s Fund
2015 – Regional Winner of the Lloyds Bank Foundation Award for Enterprise and Collaboration
2015 – Children & Young People Now finalist
2016 – Rollover of carers’ services contract
2017 – Children &Young People Now finalist
2018 – Celebrating 25 years of supporting young carers

Innovation and Specialism

“I couldn’t be prouder to work alongside you and your team in delivering our collective goals” Chair of ²gether NHS Foundation Trust