As our thoughts turn to spring I’d like to highlight some poignant dates on the horizon.
On March 12th it is Young Carers Action Day and this year’s theme is “Give Me A Break”, focusing on the importance of rest and respite for young carers. Young carers carry a heavy burden of responsibility, leaving them with minimal time for themselves and placing them at a high risk of burnout. It is essential for them to take a break. Research shows that young carers are substantially more likely to experience severe psychological distress compared to their peers who do not have caregiving duties. They require time away from their caregiving roles to rest, rejuvenate, and prioritise their own needs, whether that involves pursuing a hobby or simply enjoying time with friends, just like others their age. If you know a young carer that could benefit from such respite, please do keep checking our ‘Life Chances’ page which will soon have a wide range of different opportunities available, to help our young carers enjoy the break they need in 2025.
And the support doesn’t end there for our Naval young carers, The Nexus Project aims to improve support, resources and access to services for young carers within Armed Forces families specifically. They recognise that issues can be exacerbated due to parent deployments, frequent house moves and living in secure military housing. The Nexus Project works with professionals from Armed Forces support services, young carers services, schools, the NHS, and others to drive change. For more information click here.
Now, imagine a week where we celebrate all the different ways people’s brains can work! That’s Neurodiversity Celebration Week, which will be celebrated from March 17th. This week aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported by providing schools, universities, organisations, and others with the opportunity to recognise the many skills and talents of neurodivergent individuals, while creating more inclusive and equitable cultures that celebrate differences and empower every individual. Keep your eyes on our website and social media channels to find out more. If you have a neurodivergent child, then please do contact us to see how we can help you. There is so much information out there it can be a bit overwhelming and talking it through with one of our team just might find something that can support you, your neurodivergent child and any other children in the family, particularly if you are also struggling with separation through deployment or weekending. We are just a phone call or email away 023 9263 9534 caseworkers@navalchildrenscharity.org.uk
Our bicentenary celebrations are in full swing, and we can’t help but be reminded of our beginnings. We would be delighted to connect with anyone who, in the past, received support in one of our Children’s Homes. If you or a family member spent time with us, we invite you to reach out and share your experience.
If you were lucky enough to have received one of our free Craft Kits, please do get pictures of your ‘Birthday Creations’ into us ahead of the closing date on 14th March. The judging of this competition will be undertaken by members of our Youth Council, and already we don’t envy their job as we have had some incredible entries sent in. Remember, the design could be a birthday card, a collage representing an event from our history or even their own life as a Naval child. With a £200 Merlin voucher up for grabs for the 1st place, don’t miss your chance to win!
Is someone in your household considering University?
Thinking about university… whether or not to go, the financial implications, which course to study, and where – we know there’s a lot for families to consider and young people often have lots of questions. Which is why we’ve teamed up with The Brilliant Club!
Across June & July of this year, The Brilliant Club will be hosting 7 online sessions for Naval young people. Current students will be telling us what university & their subject areas are like, whilst higher education experts will be talking us through topics such as UCAS applications and academic skills.
To make the most of these sessions, we’d like to let them know about topics or questions that our young people would particularly like support with. So, if someone in your house is considering university, please take a minute to pop your thoughts and questions here.
Best wishes,
Clare Scherer MBE
Chief Executive Officer, Naval Children’s Charity
