“Please vote for us.”

The message from MYTIME Young Carers.

The Dorset-based children’s charity is in line for £70,000 of National Lottery funding – but only if it gets enough votes in this year’s The People’s Projects.

It is one of five groups in the ITV Meridian West region in the running for a share of almost £250,000 of funding.

You can vote for MYTIME Young Carers by clicking here.

If successful, the charity will use the money to bring young carers together as a community to enjoy fun and enriching activity days out. 

Its Making Memories programme allows young carers much-needed time out from their caring responsibilities and the chance to try new experiences such as ice-skating, rock-climbing or paddle-boarding.

Days out include a hot meal for each child with young carers encouraged to get active and connect with the great outdoors.

Most importantly, the initiative creates opportunities for young carers to meet and build for themselves a support network.  

Krista Sharp, CEO, pictured right, said: “There are an estimated 11,000 young carers living in Dorset currently.

“This number is constantly on the rise as the cost of living crisis creates more and more mental health concerns for families.

“Young carers do so much for their loved ones.

“Some provide personal care, helping relatives to get showered and dressed for the day; some administer medication and dress wounds and most take on the lion’s share of the housework too.

“The mind-boggling thing is that we work with children as young as five years old, who are already fulfilling these kinds of responsibilities.”

In total, 95 community groups, including MYTIME Young Carers, have been shortlisted for funding across the UK.

The three projects receiving the most public votes in the ITV Meridian West region will receive grants of up to £70,000.

The total funding available for communities across the UK is more than £4 million.

Penelope Day, Director of Fundraising and Communications, pictured left, said: “As a charity, we receive no government funding at all so The People’s Projects represents an amazing opportunity for us to raise awareness and much-needed funding for our work.

“By voting for MYTIME’s Making Memories programme, you’ll be keeping it going for another year, allowing us to support around 500 young carers over that time.

“We really need local people to get behind us, to show their support and vote.”   

David Knott, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Community Fund, said, “The People’s Projects delivers much-needed funding to the heart of communities and showcases the incredible efforts of hard-working projects across the UK.

“The shortlisted groups are truly inspirational, each delivering life-changing support to their community in different ways.

“It is now time for the public to have their say in how vital National Lottery funding is used in their area to make a difference to people’s lives, particularly in these challenging times.”

Voting closes at noon on Friday May 26.

You can only vote once per region and will need an email address or mobile number.

• thepeoplesprojects.org.uk