Ambition First Steps Award presented to Norfolk Young Carers Forum

Caring Together is delighted to have been awarded the Momentum – Ambition First Steps Award for the Norfolk Young Carers Forum.

Caring Together’s Lottery-funded Norfolk Young Carers Forum (NYCF) is a project which gives young carers and young adult carers across Norfolk the opportunity to raise awareness and make a difference to the issues that affect them and their families.

Being accredited with the Ambition First Steps Award shows the Norfolk Young Carers Forum (NYCF) has in place the standards required by any youth club or community project for safe, equitable and legal practice. It covers what a club or community project needs to be safe and deliver a high quality service for children and young people.

Andy McGowan, Business and Communities Development Manager at Caring Together, said, “We are delighted to have achieved the Momentum – Ambition First Steps Award. We take our work with young carers very seriously. This award recognises how we have in place the programmes, policies and procedures that mean we do this properly.”

Among the success stories of the Norfolk Young Carers Forum has been the creation of the Carer Friendly Tick Award - Education. This award enables education organisations such as schools and colleges to be recognised for identifying and supporting young carers. Versions of the Carer Friendly Tick Award are also available for community groups, employers and health organisations.

Norfolk Young Carers Forum also holds:

• area and county forums where young and young adult carers can help plan and deliver events and campaigns on the issues that affect them and their families
• Consultations and surveys to capture the voices of young carers
• special events such as conferences and awareness-raising training for adults and young people

Forum members are able to meet other young carers and young adult carers who want to make a difference. They work with Norfolk County Council and other relevant organisations, and receive free training to improve their skills and confidence.

For more information on the forum email nycf@caringtogether.org. To learn more about Caring Together, including the Carer Friendly Tick Award, please visit www.caringtogether.org or e-mail carerfriendlytick@caringtogether.org.

Norfolk Young Carers Forum is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.