Young Welsh carer surprised with Christmas pizza treats through Barnardo’s charity partnership

Artisan pizza company Birtelli’s has partnered with Barnardo’s by donating a percentage of all the pizza meal kits it sells to the charity’s ‘Kidsmas’ campaign.

Kidsmas aims to raise £200,000 to support a wide range of children’s services that protect, support and nurture the UK’s most vulnerable children.

Warwickshire-based Birtelli’s launched its initiative in November and over a six-week period hopes to raise £15,000 for Barnardo’s by giving 15% from each pizza kit sold across Wales, Scotland and England.

One vital children’s service is the Barnardo’s Young Carers’ Service – which provides support to young carers like 11-year-old Emily from Wales.

Emily is a big fan of pizzas and was delighted when Birtelli’s sent her and her family a pizza kit, giving them an opportunity to enjoy cooking it and eating together.

She helps look after her two younger siblings who both have autism and said: “I had so much fun making the pizza and having a bit of time with my mum to cook one of my favourite dinners. I’ve been helping her look after Sophie and Joe since they were little, making sure they are ok and giving mum time to do normal household things.”

Young carers are defined as children who look after a family member who has a physical or mental health condition, illness or disability or misuses drugs or alcohol. Barnardo’s provides a young carers’ service that helps them have time out and talk with other children in similar situations.

Jon Hilder, team leader at Barnardo’s Young Carers Service, said: “Young carers have intrinsic roles within their family settings, and we try and help them reduce the impact of looking look after their loved ones and give them time to enjoy their childhoods.

“With so many responsibilities, young carers often miss out on opportunities that other children have to play and learn. Some young carers struggle educationally and can become isolated, with little relief from the pressures at home, but Emily is doing really well and achieving fantastic results in school, which her family are rightly proud of.

“We aim to help as many young carers as we can and it’s great to be able to provide support to them. Emily’s family all had a good time together making and eating pizza!”

Jim Biryah, co-founder of Birtelli’s, said: “Along with Barnardo’s staff and volunteers, we’ve spent the last six weeks delivering our home pizza kits, helping bring children, families and volunteers together to connect, make pizza, laugh and smile.

“It’s all part of the Kidsmas campaign to help raise significant funds that could make a huge difference to the lives of thousands of children and families.”

To support Birtelli’s partnership with Barnardo’s and help raise vital funds for the charity’s Kidsmas campaign, go to https://go.birtellis.co.uk/Barnardos.