Christopher Styles
SLOG THE CHANNEL: Swimming the Channel Solo to support Young Carers
Fundraising for Carers Trust
Story
To find out much more and read my blog visit www.slogthechannel.com
Thanks so much for visiting this page. It's always been a dream of mine to swim the English Channel, but it won't be easy; fewer people have successfully swum it than have climbed Everest. And just to add indignity to hardship, I have to somehow vacuum-pack myself into a pair of speedos for the attempt (I have already arranged post-swim counselling for my support crew).
For sure the attempt will be hard but none of it is ANYTHING compared to what the young people I want to support have to go through.
There are an estimated 700,000 young carers in there UK right now. That means that they are under 18 (often VERY young) and are looking after a parent or relative who often, in other circumstances, would be looking after them. It's a rough deal, and too many kids are losing out on something they can never get back - their childhood itself.
ONE IN FOUR ARE BULLIED AT SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THEIR ROLE AS A CARER
ONE IN THREE SAY THEY SKIP SCHOOL MOST WEEKS
NEARLY HALF SAY THAT NOBODY AT SCHOOL IS AWARE THAT THEY ARE A CARER
Often the young people themselves, and sometimes the adults they care for, are reluctant to admit what's going on to those outside the family. So many of these kids have been doing this for so long, from so young, that they don’t even realise that they ARE carers. Often the connections between social services for adults and children are poor, so they fall through the cracks of the system.
It sounds bad, and it IS bad. The good news is that the Carers Trust is actively working to identify and support young carers everywhere, right now. Please help them do more, right now, by sponsoring me.
Thanks so much for visiting this page. It's always been a dream of mine to swim the English Channel, but it won't be easy; fewer people have successfully swum it than have climbed Everest. And just to add indignity to hardship, I have to somehow vacuum-pack myself into a pair of speedos for the attempt (I have already arranged post-swim counselling for my support crew).
For sure the attempt will be hard but none of it is ANYTHING compared to what the young people I want to support have to go through.
There are an estimated 700,000 young carers in there UK right now. That means that they are under 18 (often VERY young) and are looking after a parent or relative who often, in other circumstances, would be looking after them. It's a rough deal, and too many kids are losing out on something they can never get back - their childhood itself.
ONE IN FOUR ARE BULLIED AT SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THEIR ROLE AS A CARER
ONE IN THREE SAY THEY SKIP SCHOOL MOST WEEKS
NEARLY HALF SAY THAT NOBODY AT SCHOOL IS AWARE THAT THEY ARE A CARER
Often the young people themselves, and sometimes the adults they care for, are reluctant to admit what's going on to those outside the family. So many of these kids have been doing this for so long, from so young, that they don’t even realise that they ARE carers. Often the connections between social services for adults and children are poor, so they fall through the cracks of the system.
It sounds bad, and it IS bad. The good news is that the Carers Trust is actively working to identify and support young carers everywhere, right now. Please help them do more, right now, by sponsoring me.