A Dorset charity providing young carers with support, friendship and opportunities has successfully bid for £13,500 of grant funding.

The money will allow MYTime Young Carers to launch a Young Carers Employability Programme.

The Employability Programme seeks to support young adult carers, aged 18 to 25, who are currently not working or in education.

Krista Cartlidge, MYTime Executive Director, pictured left, said, “For a young carer, making the transition from childhood into adulthood can be complex and challenging as a result of their significant caring responsibilities.

“This can have a substantial effect on their engagement with education and employment.

“Young carers miss on average 48 school days per year, accounting for them missing almost 25 per cent of their education.

“As a consequence young carers can achieve lower grades at GCSE than their peers.

“Their caring responsibilities also mean that they struggle to find employers who are able to offer them the necessary flexibility that they require to allow them to work.”

The Employability Programme participants will attend six face to face sessions, each lasting two hours over a six-week period.

Course content and activities will include:

• Exploring potential careers paths. Providing the support and guidance needed to identify and access a job or further education course which both interests them buts also fits alongside their caring responsibilities.
• A CV Writing Workshop – giving participants the opportunity to write a CV and consider how all of the skills they have developed as carers can be useful in the workplace.
• Interview skills training.
• Mock interviews with local business leaders from the charity’s project partners.
• Support in applying for work experience placements with a project partner.
• Attendance at an awards evening celebrating the successes and achievements of participants

Krista said, “We are very fortunate to count some outstanding Dorset-based businesses as our partners for this project.

“Supporting businesses involved include Jimmy’s Iced Coffee, Greendale Construction Limited, Barker Group, Inspire Accountancy, Intergage, KTPR, Bijou Recruitment and Camden Bar and Kitchen.

“We are also looking for other businesses to come on board and be a part of this journey that these young people will be on.

“It’s an opportunity for a business to make a massive difference to the life of a young carer and potentially change their direction in life.”

Any businesses interested in becoming project partners are urged to contact [email protected]

Employability Programme Manager Emma Fry, who is an experienced and qualified careers advisor, added, “Please do get in touch if you know of a young carer who would be eligible to attend this programme.

“We would love to hear from you at [email protected] or telephone 01202 710701.”