Pointers Youth Centre – 30 years of supporting young people in Lewis and Harris

Last week was Carers Week 2022 so when better to tell you about our Young Carers groups?!

A Young Carer is someone aged 25 and under who cares for a friend or family member who, due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, cannot cope without their support.

Pointers runs two weekly groups for Young Carers aged 8 – 18 years.  Our Carers groups are to give young carers a break away from their caring role, where they can come together with other young carers and participate in fun activities such as baking, joinery skills, sports, arts & crafts or just chilling out listening to music.

During the summer holidays, the group meets with the group from Harris and has days out to beaches, Scaladale, climbing Lighthouses, all sorts!

Recently, the groups were lucky to be awarded funding through the Western Isles Community Care Forum, Shared Care Scotland fund.  With this money, they designed and painted a mural on a wall in Pointers and what an amazing job they did!  One of the young carers said “If people are feeling down they can go and look at it and it will make them happy.”

When asking carers what coming along to the groups meant to them, this is what a few of them said:

“Happy”

“Everyone is very positive and are really nice”

“It gives me good friends to talk to”

“It’s a place of calmness”

“It means that I am able to have time for myself and can be happy”

 

If you want to find out more information please get in touch:

Email: pointers@cne-siar.gov.uk

Tel: 01851 822713