Jayne Bryant MS sponsors Young Carers Action Day event

Newport West MS Jayne Bryant sponsors Young Carers Action Day event. 

Newport West’s Member of Senedd, Jayne Bryant, sponsored a Young Carers Action Day event today, Wednesday 7 June 2023. The event was hosted by Carers Trust Wales in support of Carers Week and took place in the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay.  

The Young Carers Action Day event was a drop-in session and provided an opportunity for Members of the Senedd to meet with young and young adult carers on the Carers Trust Wales’ Youth Council. It provided a chance for young people to share their experiences of caring, and to have conversations about the realities of being a young or young adult carer in Wales, and what support needs to be put in place to help support them.  

Members of the Senedd were given the chance to hear from young and young adult carers about their concerns within the care sector and the impact which caring had on their education, work, and mental health. Discussions were had about the changes young and young adult carers would like to see to ensure their work is recognised and supported in Wales. An emphasis was placed by the young and young adult carers on suggesting recommendations for the types of support which could be put in place by Senedd Members to assist with the challenges of caring while being in education and navigating their personal lives. 

Carers Trust is a national charity who are committed to improving support and services for unpaid carers, as well as empowering carers and raising awareness for the work they do. Carers Trust provide advice and practical support for unpaid carers in Wales.  

Young Carers Action Day is an annual campaign which aims to raise public awareness of young and young adult carers and seeks to bring about change for them and their families.  

One of the main concerns facing young and young adult carers is ensuring that their health and wellbeing is looked after, and not overlooked due to their role as carers.  

This year, young adult carers have set out a list of requirements to ensure they can maintain their health and wellbeing while caring for others:  

• Improved support in education and workplaces 
• More access to breaks  
• Better access to mental health support, such as counselling or therapy 
• More financial support.  

Speaking after the event, MS for Newport West Jayne Bryant said:“I am always in awe of the strength shown by the young carers I meet. They go through so much at an age where they are still developing.” 

“It was incredibly moving to hear from carers such as Ollie Mullin, who spoke of his commitment to his brother and shared that caring for him doesn’t impact his life; it is his life, something we know is felt by many of Wales’ young carers.” 

“There is a lot that we can take away from this informative session and a lot to be positive about, including the improved mental health support, the introduction of the IT card, and more.” 

“Actions speak louder than words. Let’s make time for young carers” 

The campaign aims to engage with representatives who can take specific action to support Young Carers Action Day and bring about positive and meaningful change to support the lives of young and young adult carers in Wales.  

For more information on Young Carers Action Day, visit: Young Carers Action Day 2023 | Carers Trust  

For more information on Carers Trust Wales, visit: Our work in Wales – Carers Trust