Young carers service join MP for launch of national coalition

Andrea Ashton, Family Support Worker, Jim Dobbin MP and Sinead Deegan at the Houses of Parliament.

Members of staff and a young adult carer from Family Action Rochdale young carers service joined Heywood and Middleton MP Jim Dobbin at a Parliamentary reception on Thursday to launch a national coalition.

The event was hosted by Sir George Young MP and marked the bringing together of all those who have been working for many years on the needs of young carers and their families.

The National Young Carers Coalition intends to continue this work and make sure that the needs of young carers and their families are highlighted when national policies are made.

In particular, the event focused on the specific needs of young adult carers and their transition to adulthood, which is why Sinead Deegan, 19, who has been involved with Rochdale Young Carers service for a number of years, attended the event accompanied by her worker Andrea Ashton and the project manager, Jacqui Greenfield.

Sinead, Andrea and Jacqui felt that the event was a great success and enjoyed powerful presentations given by two young people about their struggles to combine their caring roles and desire to carry on with their education.

They were particularly delighted to be taken on a tour round parts of the Houses of Parliament by Jim Dobbin.

Jacqui Greenfield said: "It was a first time visit to the Houses of Parliament for all of us. We were delighted that our local MP was their to support our borough’s young carers project and this national initiative.

"Jim Dobbin made history come alive for us as he showed us around Westminster, which was an experience we won’t forget."