Mayor and Mayoress of Rugby welcome young carers to the Town Hall

Cllr Bill Lewis invited the youngsters to the Mayor's parlour ahead of today's (Thursday 30 January) Young Carers Awareness Day, an annual event organised by the Carers Trust to highlight the challenges young carers face and campaign for greater support.

The visit was organised by Warwickshire Young Carers, a charity which offers free and confidential support to youngsters who help look after a family member or friend living with illness, disability or issues with alcohol or drugs.

Nationwide, one in five youngsters care for loved ones, from looking after siblings and carrying out household chores such as cooking and cleaning, to managing the family budget and giving medicine to a parent.

The role presents young carers with a range of challenges, including missing school, social isolation, bullying, and mental and physical health problems.

Warwickshire Young Carers works to make a difference to young carers lives, tailoring support and advice to each youngster, and offering young carers the chance to take a break, socialise, and achieve ambitions and goals.

During the visit to the Town Hall, the youngsters spoke to Cllr and Mrs Lewis in the Mayor's parlour before taking a tour of the council chamber.

Cllr Lewis said: "Children who care for a family member or friend carry a tremendous amount of responsibility on young shoulders, a responsibility which can bring its own pressures and challenges.

"Meeting the young carers in the Mayor's parlour, I was struck by how well-adjusted and capable the youngsters were, and was interested to find out more about the work Warwickshire Young Carers does to support these often unsung heroes."

For more information about Warwickshire Young Carers, visit www.warwickshireyoungcarers.org.uk