A VALUABLE group for young carers in Tavistock has been forced to close due to lack of support.

The Tavistock Young Carers group had been crucial at providing the young people of the town and surrounding areas with a place to enjoy a much needed respite break.

Katherine Mullan, project manager at Young Devon, a charity which ran the group, said: 'We didn't have enough support to run the group but it is crucial in Tavistock to get this group back up and running.

'If we had additional support we could re-launch the group in Tavistock — we desperately need to find some more help.'

Young Devon supports 130 young carers in West Devon and 195 in South Hams from as young as five years old, providing aid all year round through its group meetings and respite trips.

One girl from Tavistock, who has found the carers' group a much needed resource, has spoken to the Times to emphasise its importance.

Natasha Parfitt, 14, attends Okehampton College and is the middle child of three siblings.

Natasha's father became ill six years ago. She has been his carer for nearly two years and has been able to engage with other young carers through activities organised by Young Devon: 'It's nice to be with other people who understand what has happened and know how hard it is to get out,' she said.

She added that it would be a shame if the Tavistock group did not open again due to lack of support or if the respite breaks were to end: 'I think it would be upsetting as it's quite nice to not have to do anything and nice for the other people there as well to go on holiday and be with other people who understand.'

Not only is the future of the group at risk, but the future of the respite trips have also been deemed critical.

Young Devon said that it urgently needs help to secure its respite trips for the children and young people it supports.

It needs a small group of committed people who have a few days to spare to look after the inspiring young people, enabling them to have a deserved day or two away from their caring responsibilities.

Katherine added: 'For many young carers it is so important that they have the chance to be with other young carers who understand what they are going through, have time to enjoy leisure activities and see that they are valued by others for their caring role.

'Our groups give these young carers access to direct support from their project worker on a regular basis and this is vital for some who are often in very difficult situations at home, but it is the trips that they really look forward to. Every trip is so over-subscribed we could easily double the number we offer but we just don't have the resources to run more.

'These few hours do so much good for the young carers and to lose them is unthinkable.'

Information on Young Devon can be found at http://www.youngdevon.org">www.youngdevon.org