Swindon young carers gain some respite in the great outdoors (From Swindon Advertiser)

Young carers gain some respite in the great outdoors at Swindon's Lydiard Park

12:00pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News

THE Swindon Young Carers Nature Challenge Celebration Day will take place at Lydiard Park this month with a variety of activities for carers and their families.

On March 28, from noon until 3pm, there will be a barbecue, a range of nature based activities to take part in, including making bug houses, pine cone bird feeders, egg cress heads and more.

The highlight of the day will be the unveiling of the Interpretation Board designed by the Swindon Young Carers aged eight to 11, and the awarding of certificates to all who participated.

The Young Carers Nature Challenge is part of the Access to Nature grant scheme managed by Natural England with funding from the Big Lottery Fund.

The challenge aims to give young carers respite from their caring responsibilities by taking them outdoors and engaging them in fun, nature-based games and activities, as well as practical conservation projects.

The YCNC teaches young people about the natural world whilst also improving green spaces for local communities.

But more than this, it gives young carers the opportunity to meet other young people with shared experiences, and make new friends, whilst boosting their confidence and encouraging them to take part in new challenges.

Helen Rankin, Young Carer Support Worker from Swindon Carers Centre said: “It is a great initiative.

“They are getting a break from their caring role and discovering things they have ability for, while developing peer relationships.

“The project has been running for two years, and in this time, more than 450 young carers and their families have participated in six areas in the south west.

Sadly, the project will come to an end on March 31, but they will continue to look for more funding opportunities.”