A FESTIVAL for Scotland’s young carers will take place online next month after being hit by the coronavirus.
The event provides young carers with a much-needed break from their caring responsibilities.
The Scottish Young Carers Festival has also been an opportunity to meet other young people in similar situations, share and have fun.
Carers Trust Scotland and the Scottish Government have been working with young carers and their services to plan a new kind of festival this year.
In a first for the organisation, the ‘Best of the Fest!’ three-day festival will be held online from Wednesday, August 5, when young carers will have the opportunity to participate in activities such as mindfulness, yoga and live music.
Further resources will be made available via the internet, including live workshops for young carers and youth workers hosted by representatives from Young Scot and the Scottish Youth Parliament.
This year’s alternative festival takes place during a challenging time for many young carers, with a report from Carers Trust Scotland survey showing that 42% of young adult carers in Scotland say they are unable to take a break from caring as a result of the coronavirus.
The survey found that 69% of young carers and 76% of young adult carers in Scotland who responded to the survey felt less able to stay in touch with friends since the Covid-19 outbreak.
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