A GROUP of young people, who devote a lot of their time and energy to care for disabled members of their families have just returned from a short break at the annual Young Carers' Festival.
Eleven youngsters, all under 18, accompanied by three staff, including their project worker Steve Shill from Youthwize, spent a weekend at the start of this month at the YMCA's Fairthorne Manor in Southampton.
There they were able to meet other children in similar situations, to share experiences, have fun and make new friends.
Project leaders were also able to meet each other to share good practices.
The festival, organised by the YMCA and the Children's Society, is an opportunity to give as many as 2,000 young carers, an often unregarded segment of our society, a voice, said Mr Shill, but it is also a lot of fun with discos, drama, art, music and outdoor adventure activities.
Tavistock carer Susan Bragg, 14, said: 'Young carers' festival is a chance to get away from the everyday life that is looking after my parents, brothers and sisters. It was the best time I have had since before the car crash that made me a young carer.'
Susan enjoyed art, abseiling, drama, canoeing and sunbathing, as well as the disco and firework display.
'There were a lot of tears shed on our last night there. People thought they were the only young carers in the world, but they found out there are others like them.
'My party came back loving every minute of it. It was the best time, and we will always look back with fun-loving memories,' she said.
The group is looking forward to next year to meet again the people they met at Southampton.
Pictured left to right are Laura Hickman, Vicky Judd, Lucy Tonge, Tina Sedgman, Susan Bragg, Peter Sedgman, Steve Shill, Sophie McGowan and workers Di Cargan and Kirsty Yeoman with the banner they made to locate their own tents among the thousands making up the 'mini Glastonbury' at Fairthorne Manor.