How Are You Feeling?

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How Are You Feeling?
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• Nature wants children to be
• Children before they are men.
• If we deliberately depart from this order,
• We shall get premature fruits
• Which are neither ripe nor flavoured and which
  soon decay.
• We shall have youthful sages and grown up
  children.
• Childhood has ways of seeing, thinking, and
  feeling, peculiar to itself
• Nothing can be more foolish than to substitute
  our ways for them.
• Jean Jacques Rousseau

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Who are young carers?

• Young Carers are young people whose lives are
  affected by caring for a family member who has a
  long-term illness or disability,mental health
  problem,or possibly addiction to drugs or
  alcohol.They might care for a parent,brother or
  sister,or perhaps a grandparent.

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Services to Young Carers

• WYCP is part of the Hampshire Young Carers
  Alliance (HYCA)
• Currently throughout Hampshire there are 7 young
  carers services

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Winchester and District Young Carers Project

• Independent Charity
• Management Committee Trustees / Parent Advisor
• Project Manager Daniel Phelps
• Activities and Support Co-ordinator Ben Hogbin
• Schools Activities Worker Alison Cross
• Administration Nick Haysom

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WYCP Mission Statement

• The WYCP aims to support Young Carers and their
  families, 1with a varied and flexible approach
  from an independent standpoint. Our focus is
  young person centred. We aim to have a wide
  knowledge in the field of young carers issues
  and be a key link to other agencies statutory and
  non-statutory, in the life of a young person who
  has caring responsibilities.
•  1 For families, this support is restricted to
  signposting, referring and information and
  possibly limited advocacy.

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WYCP Mission Statement Cont.

• The aim of our support is to counter any adverse
  impacts on the young persons life due to their
  caring responsibilities and family situations.
• We aim also to raise awareness of young carers
  issues in order that they may be better supported
  wherever they are.
• The WYCP provides a forum where young people are
  able to meet others with similar issues, and
  where they can find mutual support and
  friendship.

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Winchester and District Young Carers Project

• Activities Programme
• Skills Programme (Skill UP!)
• Clubs in Winchester and Swanmore
• Befriending Scheme
• Information
• Signposting to other agencies
• Schools Worker
• General Support
• Chat on phone/email/text

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Schools Work

• Schools Worker Alison Cross
• Awareness with Staff
• One-to-One Support
• SAP Exploration Groups
• Lunchtime drop-in clubs

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What we can offer volunteers

• Help support young people in some very difficult
  / challenging circumstances
• Really make a difference in the lives of young
  people
• A chance to share your skills and experience with
  others
• Acquire new skills
•  

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What we can offer volunteers cont.

• Enjoy the buzz of working with young people
• Meet other interesting volunteers
•  
• Occasional social events
• Expenses and mileage covered
• Lots of fun

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Becoming a volunteer The process

• Application Form
• 2 References
• Training Course
• Post course informal interview
• CRB check

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Personal Specification

• Must be over 18
• Good listening skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with young
  people
• Have an understanding / experience of young
  peoples issues. Non-judgemental
• Self motivation
• Use of own car and full driving license
• Be able to give regular commitment to the project

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Activity and Club Support Workers (4-8 hours per
month mileage allowance)

• Establish and develop relationships with the YP
• Encourage and involve those with low confidence
  and self esteem
• Supervise YP at group activities i.e. day trips
  out
• Possibly transport YP to and from group
  activities

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Befrienders(5-10 hours per month mileage
allowance)

• Offer support and friendship
• Actively listen to YP
• Enable YP to identify their needs and concerns
• Help YP to develop social skills and self
  confidence
• Encourage and facilitate YP to pursue an interest
  outside the home

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Drivers(3 hours per month mileage allowance)

• To transport YP to and from club or group
  activities
• Establish relationships with YP
• Actively listen to the YP
• Other roles
• Local Fundraising
• Stand Alone Projects
• Handing out leaflets

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Utilising volunteers skills

• Nutritionist healthy eating week
• Art teacher arts crafts (scrapbooks)
• Journalist WYCP newsletter

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Training Course AIMS

• Aims
• To enhance the volunteers CONFIDENCE and to equip
  the volunteer with the basic INFORMATION and
  SKILLS to best support the Young people on the
  project

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AIMS CONT.

• Look at the volunteers roles as an activity and
  club support worker, Befriender and driver and
  explore other options for volunteering
• To be aware of confidentiality issues, child
  protection issues and the boundaries when working
  with vulnerable YP
• To learn how to keep yourself safe as a volunteer
• To find out about WYCP activities and how they
  are organised
• To enable you to feel comfortable and secure to
  begin volunteering!

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Any Questions?
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Contact Details

• www.wycp.org.uk
• Office_at_wycp.org.uk
• 01962 848039

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Checks

• Do you have?
• Training course dates
• Application Form
• CRB forms

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Additional Ideas

• Show
• A Breath of Fresh Air - video
• Or
• Eastleigh Young Carers Video