NORTH Cotswolds Rotary Club and Adam Henson's Cotswold Farm Park joined forces for a sponsored walk to raise money for young carers in the area.

The four-mile walk on August 18 started and finished in the Cotswold Farm Park. 50 walkers and helpers took part in the event and together they raised £500. 

Money was raised for the two charities, Carers Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire Young Carers, who are running a project together to help young people aged 16 to 25 who are unpaid carers of a family member or friend.

The two charities were in attendance to speak about their work and a young adult carer, Abbie, spoke of her experience.

Abbie cares for her mother and had to forego full-time education to give priority to caring for her family.

She said: "I have been a carer for 10 years, and it’s hard being the only healthy one in my family.

"I’ll always be there for them because I love them so much.

"Like all young carers and young adults I have dreams and like many I have no idea how to achieve them. But like all I won’t give up.”

Abbie went on to explain how the burden of caring and her shy character had made it hard for her to make friends at school.

“You wouldn’t believe that now. I am so grateful to Gloucestershire Young Carers who helped me a lot with my social skills and confidence," she said.

Rotary club president Colin Gatenby said: "Abbie, like so many others in her situation, is an inspiration to others and we felt privileged to meet and talk to her.

"She should be rightly proud of all that she is doing and she was a real pleasure to talk to.

"We are very grateful to Adam Henson for allowing us to hold this event within the Farm Park, an excellent venue for an evening walk.”

Research shows that caring for a family member can have a huge impact on a young adult carer’s health, wellbeing and education. 

The young adult carers project is targeting carers aged 16 to 25, a group twice as likely to not be in education, employment or training.

Many young adult carers provide 50 hours or more of care each week, which has a huge impact on their lives.

A recent Gloucestershire County Council survey identified 2450 Young Adult Carers in the county, and within the Cotswolds it is estimated that there are more than 280 young adult carers.

Carers Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire Young Carers have put together a project specifically aimed at supporting young adult carers in the county, the budget for which is £68,000 over an 18-month period.

They have received a grant from the Carers Trust, but they still have a shortfall of £26,000 for the project.