Dorset-based charity MYTIME Young Carers are hosting the biggest ever online Christmas party for carers.
Over 1000 registered young carers in Dorset will also receive a goody-bag, which the charity will be delivering to each carer attending the party. These goody-bags include a Christmas jumper, a craft item donated by Hobbycraft, a chocolate selection box, a handwritten card and recipe calendars, or ‘The Late Crew’ book by Rab Ferguson for younger carers.
MYTIME supports young carers across the county. A young carer is anyone under the age of 18 who care for another person.
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The charity supports carers as young as five years old, and these young people sacrifice their own time to help care for family members who may have a disability, illness, mental health condition or a drug or alcohol problem.
This help can be anything from cooking dinner, doing laundry, or physically helping a family member get up or get dressed. They sacrifice a lot of time to care for their family, missing out on a lot of activities which other young people may take for granted.
Penelope Day, Fundraising Director at the charity, said: “It can be tricky for young carers to leave their responsibilities at home and get transport for outings, so we wanted to bring a virtual party to them where they can open their goody bag gifts together as our little way of thanking them for all they do.
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“These remarkable young people work incredibly hard, and some never get a day off, including Christmas which can be very isolating. This chance to bring them together and let them know they’re not alone and that they deserve to have fun is the highlight of our year at MYTIME.”
To host this Christmas party, the charity needs some support.
Each goody-bag costs the charity £15, and Ms. Day said: “We know that money is very tight at the moment, especially at Christmas time combined with the rising cost of living. But, if people are able give anything at all to help put a smile on a young carer’s face, it would really mean the world”
The charity has 1000 recipe calendars available for purchase for a donation of just £10, with all donations going towards the charity’s work helping young carers.
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