Hidden Stars
Supporting Young Carers
Hidden Stars is a project funded by Children in Need to provide support to children and young people aged 8 - 18 who are caring for someone close to them who has a chronically or terminally unwell diagnosis. Funded by the National Lottery offering carer-specific support to young carers between the ages of 8-24 yrs in North Devon, Torridge and Mid Devon. Principally offering:
• An initial needs-based assessment with regular reviews. The young person is assigned a support worker with who they can build a really good, trusting relationship from the outset.
• 1:1 mentoring support, with an individual Action Plan that is time limited to either 3- 6 or 8 sessions, based on need. Walk and talk, face to face throughout the pandemic.
• Family Support, complimented by our direct access into CAB services to help with issues such as housing, debt, benefits, finances.
• Advocacy for young carers and attendance at TAF meetings and other statutory meetings.
• Access to training, information and advice through our social media platforms, the website, page (with a private group for young carers), newsletter, monthly themed Live Chat groups.
• The Ambassador project - a group of former young carers who help us to support young people directly through our activities, attendance at steering groups, promotional events – their approach based on their own personal experiences as a young carer.
• Working in collaboration with Devon Carers, schools, colleges, SPACE, local charities, youth groups and social services etc to promote the identification and needs of young carers. Our workers visit groups, getting to know the young people. We rely purely on charitable funding and TTVS are in the process of applying for further funding to allow us to extend our support workers hours, giving help to more young people and enhancing our service with further opportunities. Referrals from all agencies and self-referrals encouraged.
