The Devon Young Carers team have been busy supporting our Young Carers by providing a well-deserved, recognised break from their caring roles. Paddy Agnew, Devon Young Carers Service Manager, tells us more about these activities which took place over the October half term. 
 
Mid & East Devon
 
Our Young Carers enjoyed a trip to The Wildside Experience nestled in the Blackdown Hills near to Hemyock. Nine young carers aged between 7 and 14 enjoyed getting back to nature with a forest experience, roasting marshmallows around the fire, zip wiring through the forest, and getting to meet and feed the sheep, pigs, and chickens at Wildside. A truly memorable and enjoyable time was had by all.
 
South Devon
 
Primary-aged Young Carers from South Devon attended our “Wild about Wembury” activity day during half term. We met at Wembury Marine Centre where we found out more about the Life on the Edge project in Wembury and what is being done with our partners at the National Trust to help create a habitat for rare and endangered insects on the South Devon Coast. We met a Ranger and found out what being a Ranger is all about. We then did a practical conservation session on invasives, cutting the bamboo and Pampas Grass in Upper Mill Meadow. After that, we did some stream dipping to find out what minibeasts live in the freshwater! In the afternoon, after our picnic lunch on the beach, we enjoyed crafting activities, and we even took home bug hotels - all homemade from our bamboo cuttings!
 
Exeter
 
We had two Halloween-themed cookery sessions running for 16 young carers at the Community Cookery School at Westbank. over the half-term break. Emma, from the cookery school organised and delivered both sessions with the help of volunteer Sue, and the Exeter team of Bec and Lindsey.

The young carers all did a fabulous job of making spooky pizzas, ghoulish green smoothies (most of them gave this a try even if they weren’t sure!) and gooey chocolate cupcakes!

After they had finished cooking they ate some of their food together, did some arts and crafts, and chatted away to each other which was lovely to see. We had some really positive feedback from one of the families, who's young person was on their first trip with Devon Young Carers. :
 
“B and C had such a lovely time at the community cookery school today. Thank you for organising this for them.
Please can you let me know when other events that you think they will like come up? They have asked me if they can do activities like this in the future please.”
 
"Good Morning, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the Young Carers events last week and it would be so nice if we could do something similar again in the future.”