Local young carers have celebrated the end of their summer programme with an action-packed finale showcasing their final projects.
Performed to an audience of parents, carers and their friends, the day focused on the theme of 'heroes'. Each performance was inspired by honouring everyday heroes.
Isaiah, who lives in H&F and joined the young carers club this summer, explained the day:
I performed some different dances that I learnt over four days, and we were practising this morning before we performed. It was really nice and fun to get to dance and show off my interest in dancing to my family. If you're a young carer and you like dancing or singing and having fun, you should join."
As well as dance performances, the showcase included two short films and a three-person drum performance, complete with audience participation. Narrative-based musician Aga Serugo-Lugo introduced every performance, each the result of the hard work the children and young people put into the programme.
With both films, the children planned the storylines, acted in and filmed every shot themselves – learning about camera angles and storyboarding along the way.
Summer showcase
The all-day event, hosted at Latymer Upper School on King Street, was part of a partnership between Hammersmith & Fulham Young Carers Service and the charity, Create, which provides creative arts workshop experiences for the young carers.
Cllr Alex Sanderson, Deputy Leader of H&F, said:
It's incredibly important that every child and young person has the time and space to hang out with friends, try new things and enjoy time free of any responsibilities. These workshops provide these opportunities, all while helping our young carers develop their creativity skills and confidence. It's part of our work to build a stronger, safer and kinder borough."
Caring for our young carers
Young carers often struggle to balance their responsibilities with education, social activities, and self-care.
According to a recent Carers Trust survey, nearly one in five young carers (17%) rarely or never get a break, and just 15% can take a break whenever they want. While 72% of young carers miss out on school holidays due to their caregiving responsibilities, and almost two-thirds (65%) said they lacked time for themselves.
Find out more about H&F Council's Young Carers Service.
