Be Free Young Carers

Be Free Young Carers Supporting Young Carers aged 8-17 years old in West and South Oxfordshire, The Vale, White Horse and Oxford City.

Specialist Young Carers Charity supporting children & young people aged 8-17 caring for a loved one in West and South Oxfordshire, The Vale of White Horse & Oxford City !🌈⭐️

Visit our website now to make a referral!

🌟 Celebrating an Amazing Volunteer Achievement! 🌟Last night, we had the pleasure of attending the OCVA Volunteer Celebra...
18/06/2026

🌟 Celebrating an Amazing Volunteer Achievement! 🌟

Last night, we had the pleasure of attending the OCVA Volunteer Celebration Awards at Headington Hill Hall, hosted by Oxford Brookes University👏🏽

We were incredibly proud to nominate Lizzie Bowerman for the Student Volunteer Award in recognition of her dedication, compassion, and commitment to supporting young carers.

We’re absolutely delighted to share that Lizzie won the award! 🏆

Lizzie’s enthusiasm, kindness, and willingness to go above and beyond have made a real difference to the young people we support. This award is thoroughly deserved, and we couldn’t be happier to see her hard work recognised.

Please join us in congratulating Lizzie on this fantastic achievement! 👏💙

17/06/2026

Following on from Volunteers’ Week recently, we’re putting the call out once again for more volunteers to join us at 🫶🏼

We’re currently looking for volunteers to predominantly support our Hangout sessions, helping to create a safe, welcoming and fun environment for young carers to connect, relax and enjoy time with their peers.

Whether you can give a few hours a month or are looking for a rewarding way to support your local community, we’d love to hear from you.

If you think you could make a difference to the lives of young carers, please get in touch to find out more. 💙

Yesterday’s announcement from Prime Minister Keir Starmer proposing a ban on social media for under-16s has sparked a lo...
16/06/2026

Yesterday’s announcement from Prime Minister Keir Starmer proposing a ban on social media for under-16s has sparked a lot of discussion across the UK.

We welcome this change, and as a team that includes staff with teenager children, we understand first-hand both the positives and the pressures that come with being online at a young age.

At the same time, it’s important to recognise what this could mean for young carers.

For many young carers, social media isn’t just entertainment. It’s a vital connection point. It’s how they stay in touch with friends, find support from others in similar situations, access information, and have a space where they feel understood.

Any change like this needs to make sure it doesn’t unintentionally increase isolation for young people who already carry significant responsibilities.

We absolutely support keeping young people safe online, but that safety must be balanced with connection, wellbeing, and access to support.

Young carers are in every community, and their voices need to be part of this ongoing conversation.

We’ll continue listening to young carers over the coming days. If this affects you or someone you support, we want to hear your views.

Pre-orders are now open for our Truck T-shirt, with all proceeds going directly to Be Free YC 💛A huge thank you to  for ...
15/06/2026

Pre-orders are now open for our Truck T-shirt, with all proceeds going directly to Be Free YC 💛

A huge thank you to for designing such a brilliant t-shirt, she’s absolutely nailed it and we’re so grateful for her creativity and support in bringing this to life.

Every purchase goes straight back into supporting Be Free YC and the incredible work being done with young carers, helping us continue to provide vital support, opportunities, and a safe space for those who need it most.

If you’re heading to Truck Festival this year, it’s the perfect way to get involved, show your support, and be part of something that really makes a difference.

Will you be attending Truck Festival this year? Head to the link below to pre-order yours 👇

https://truckfestival.myshopify.com/products/be-free-young-carers-charity-t-shirt?variant=64919690215773

This week we received the final cheque of £36,200 from Dorchester Festival, and just wow! 😮 From the moment we found out...
11/06/2026

This week we received the final cheque of £36,200 from Dorchester Festival, and just wow! 😮

From the moment we found out we had been chosen as the charity partner, we knew something special was going to happen, we just didn’t realise quite how special.

We are so incredibly grateful, your support has meant the world to us and will make a real difference to the young carers we support 👏🏽

But none of this would have been possible without so many people coming together, the volunteers who gave their time so generously, those who donated raffle and auction prizes, the artists who performed, everyone who baked for the tea room, the photographer who captured it all, and of course our incredible staff 🫶🏼

And a huge thank you to the amazing team behind the Dorchester Festival for choosing us and bringing it all together.

We’re truly overwhelmed, thank you 🙏

It’s weeks like this that remind us just how many incredible carers are quietly supporting loved ones every single day 🫶...
10/06/2026

It’s weeks like this that remind us just how many incredible carers are quietly supporting loved ones every single day 🫶🏼

Carers of all ages make an enormous difference, often putting the needs of others before their own. Yet many remain unseen and unrecognised.

At Be Free Young Carers, our focus is on the amazing young carers who balance school, friendships and growing up alongside caring responsibilities that many of their peers never experience.

This Carers Week, we’re celebrating all carers while raising awareness of the unique challenges faced by young carers.

What can we all do to build more carer-friendly communities? 💭

Swipe through to learn more and share this post to help us spread awareness. Together, we can ensure every carer feels seen, valued and supported. 💙

09/06/2026

💙 Carers Week 2026: Building Carer Friendly Communities 💙

This week is Carers Week, with the theme “Building Carer Friendly Communities”, recognising the need for communities where unpaid carers are understood, valued and supported.

There are 5.8 million unpaid carers in the UK, contributing an estimated £184 billion a year to the economy. Around 1 million are young carers aged 17 and under 😮

When you look at these two amazing young boys, you see smiles, laughter and childhood innocence. But in reality, they also carry caring responsibilities that many adults would find challenging.

Young carers often balance caring with school, friendships and their own wellbeing, which is why carer-friendly communities matter so much.

There are lots of ways to get involved in Carers Week! Visit Carers Week⁠ website (link below) for resources and information on building carer friendly communities.

https://www.carersweek.org

08/06/2026

Meet Nicola Hutchings, Young Carer Youth Worker for South Oxfordshire 👏🏽

So, what does a good outcome look like for a young carer?

In this video, Nic shares her insight into the positive changes and achievements that can make a real difference in a young carer’s life. Watch as she explains what success looks like and why tailored support is so important for young carers and their families. 🫶🏼

If you know a young person who helps care for a family member, or would like to learn more about the support available, get in touch with Be Free Young Carers today. Together, we can ensure no young carer faces their journey alone.

This Volunteers’ Week, we’re incredibly proud to share something special…Be Free Young Carers has been nominated for The...
05/06/2026

This Volunteers’ Week, we’re incredibly proud to share something special…

Be Free Young Carers has been nominated for The King’s Award for Voluntary Service 👏🏽

There’s no better moment to share this than now, because this recognition belongs entirely to our volunteers.

From our Board of Trustees to our amazing volunteers, they are the heartbeat of everything we do. They give their time, care, and consistency to support young carers, building trust, confidence, and those small but powerful moments of relief that can change a young person’s world.

We are a charity built on people, and simply put, we couldn’t do this without them.

The nomination process is incredibly competitive, which makes this recognition even more meaningful. We feel genuinely honoured to even be considered for such a prestigious award.

But above all… we feel proud.

Proud of every single volunteer who shows up, listens, supports, and helps young carers feel seen, heard, and valued.

This recognition is yours 🫶🏼

Find out more about The King’s Award for Voluntary Service via the link below 👇

https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk

04/06/2026

As part of National Volunteers’ Week, we’d like to shine a spotlight on one of our amazing volunteers, Andy 👏🏽

Volunteers like Andy play such an important role in supporting the young carers we work with across Oxfordshire. From helping at respite sessions and activities to supporting specific projects and events, their time, energy, and commitment make a real difference to the lives of young carers.

We’re incredibly grateful for everything Andy does and for the positive impact he has on the young people and families we support.

Thank you, Andy, and thank you to all of our volunteers. Your dedication helps make Be Free Young Carers what it is 💛

If you’ve ever thought about volunteering and would like to make a difference in the lives of young carers across Oxfordshire, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch to find out more about the opportunities available.

Address

Harwell Innovation Centre, Curie Avenue
Didcot
OX110QG

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9am - 5:30pm
Friday 9am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+441235838554

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Be Free Young Carers posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to Be Free Young Carers:

Share