Our play Who Cares iin 2016 (it then toured in 2019 and again in 2021) helped us connect with young carers across the country – children and teenagers who look after family members with disabilities, mental health conditions, or other care needs. Many had been completely invisible to support services. Through that work, we kept hearing the same thing: school holidays were particularly challenging times when young carers often faced longer days of caring responsibilities with little relief like space to play and connect with others.

Young Carers Creative Makers runs free cross-artform workshops during school holidays across three Yorkshire towns. Working with partners including Barnardo's, local councils, and the venues The Lawrence Batley Theatre, Theatre Royal Wakefield &The Barnlsey Civic, , we bring together young people for creative sessions with specialised artists and practitioners.

The workshops give young carers space to be creative and connect with others who understand their experiences. Using LUNG's methodology, we weave in gentle opportunities for participants and share what matters to them, but really these sessions are about uninterrupted fun with amazing local artists – who doesn’t want that.

Every session, we're amazed by these young people – how willing they are to try new things and how quickly new friendships spark up around the space!

To see what the Young Carers Creative Makers are up to follow our Instagram hashtag #youngcarercreativemakers or sign up to our mailing list here