More communities case studies
Home > Head Office > Supporting young carers
Supporting young carers
Funding projects in Camden, Hackney and Westminster
Positive relationships near to our London office developments
In July, 14 young carers from Westminster enjoyed working with a professional playwright to create a play about caring.
In looking after a family member, young carers assume adult responsibilities. They are often at risk of social isolation, being bullied and underachieving. During a series of full-day workshops, participants wrote an imaginative tale about the adventures of young carer Lisa, drawing on their own experiences for inspiration. They then acted out the play to an enthusiastic audience which included the Deputy Lord Mayor of Westminster, British Land executives and Hollywood actress Eileen Essell.
“We were very moved by the way in which the children felt safe to explore what it meant for them to be young carers and developed a level of trust that enabled them to share this with an audience in such a powerful way. One participant, who had been excluded from school for the previous six months, said that the project had made him realise that he needed to believe in himself more.”
- Executive Director at Create, Nicky Goulder
Following the performance, Eileen presented each participant with a certificate and answered their questions about being an actor. The children were particularly keen to find out about the chocolate in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a film in which Eileen starred as one of the grandmothers.
“I learnt that I need to believe in myself and be more confident.”
- Young carer
“I used to be shy before but now I'm not. I'm talking louder and not too fast.”
- Young carer
Our next project in Westminster, where our Head Office is located, will involve jewellery-making, visual art and printing workshops. Young carers in Hackney, where our Broadgate office estate is located, will have the chance to participate in drama and music technology workshops. Participants in Camden, where our Regent’s Place office estate is located, will be able to join in a dance and music project.
“It was fantastic to witness at first hand some of the benefits projects such as these can bring to disadvantaged young people, giving them a break from their responsibilities and a chance to do something fun, as well as an opportunity to develop supportive relationships with other young carers and explore their own creativity.”
- Assistant to the Business Group at British Land, Joanne Hammond Email Joanne to find out more
Working together
We are supporting these children in partnership with arts charity Create, Camden Young Carers Service, Hackney Young Carers Service and Westminster Young Carers Service. We have been working with Create since it was founded in 2003.
