NEW ID CARD AND APP SHOWCASED ON YOUNG CARERS ACTION DAY

Ynys Môn and Gwynedd young carers have got together at the Storiel venue in Bangor on Young Carers Action Day (16th March) with Action for Children and Gwynedd and Ynys Môn councils to showcase the new ID card and AiDi app as well as other projects they have helped develop over the last 12 months.

The national young carers ID card has been developed to identify and raise awareness of young carers as well as provide recognition of their important and often invisible caring role. The aim of this national initiative is to help young carers, 18 and under, get access to the right support at the right time; for example, if a young carer was identified using their ID by a teacher, doctor or pharmacist, they would know how best to support that young carer.

An app has also been developed by Brandified Ltd in Gwynedd and Anglesey for young carers with a digital ID card included. Known as ‘AiDi’, the app is being piloted with a view to rolling out at the end of April. Features include ‘Ping my school’ where a young carer can quickly inform teachers when they are running late or cannot attend school.

Ynys Môn and Gwynedd Young Carer services supports young carers aged 5 – 18 by raising awareness, identifying and providing direct support to children and young people who look after or help to look after someone in their family who is unwell or disabled, including children caring for parents who have mental health or substance misuse problems.

Maria Bulkeley, Service Team Leader for Action for Children’s Gwynedd and Ynys Môn young carer services said: ‘Covid-19 has impacted young carers significantly, as they have faced a growing number of challenges as a result, including an increase in their caring responsibilities, isolation, stress and keeping on top of school or college work. The pandemic has also seen an increase in some young carers seeking formal means of identification to enable them to access essential foods and medicines more easily.

‘‘I’m delighted our young carers will get together and celebrate rolling out the new ID card. Young Carers Action Day is the perfect day to mark something that will make a huge difference to their everyday life and help with things most people take for granted.’

Tylor Edwards, a year 7 Gwynedd young carer who looks after his brother and sister, said: ‘I think it’s going to be very handy in the mornings when I’m late or I haven’t done my homework because of stress or something that happened the day before.  It’s going to help me so much and it’s so important we had a say in making these cards.’

Ffion Edwards, Gwynedd Council’s Wellbeing Officer added: ‘We are delighted to be able to present to our young carers the proof of their hard work. They have been instrumental in creating the new AiDi app, and without their help the app wouldn’t be as modern and user friendly as it is today. We are also grateful to those who have been helping us to create our new documentary that will showcase the day in the life of a young carer which is in the making now.

‘Our young carers are partaking in every aspect from scripting to actually acting in front of the camera. We also have been working hard on an interactive work package for schools to spread awareness of the young carers and to hopefully bring hidden carers in to our view too. The animations and work packages are being created locally by a company called ‘The Plastic Island’ and will be showcased on the day and will be shared within our schools in the coming weeks. We have been very busy, the plight of young carers here in North Wales is one that is very close to all of our hearts and we want everyone to know that we are here to help.’