Southwark Young Carers Finding Their Feet

Between 28 July and 28 August, Arts charity Create are providing young carers living in Southwark with access to free film-making, photography, sculpture and dance workshops led by the charity’s professional artists.

This month long project will culminate Friday on 28 August when the young people will showcase their new choreographed dance routine alongside a photography exhibition on the theme of identity at Surrey Quays shopping centre.

Young carers are children and young people who spend considerable time looking after a family member with a disability or ill-health. The young carers that Create is working with are from KIDS Sibling Project, aged 6-14 years old.

British Land is funding the project and, as the owner of Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, is also supporting Create by lending the charity space within the centre to shoot films, host an exhibition and perform. The young carers will be working with Create film-maker Aoife Twomey, photographer Adele Watts, sculptor Maru Rojas and dancer Nikki Watson.

Over two-thirds of young carers are bullied at school, and 82% say that caring has had a negative impact on their health.

Southwark has the second highest number of young carers in London with 2,373 children and young people providing unpaid care for unwell family members.

Create works with local carer services to enable young carers to take time off from their caring responsibilities, develop friendships with other young people in similar circumstances, and find hope and positivity through the creative arts.

For more information about what Create do you can visit their website here.