SCAFT - Supporting Carers & Families Together

03/06/2026

We are thankful for our amazing volunteers all year round, but Volunteers Week gives us a perfect opportunity to publicly acknowledge that we couldn't do what we do without them. The contribution and commitment of our volunteers to supporting young carers is simply awesome, with many having been with us the entire 17 years of SCAFT's existence! Thank you to you all for your hard work, reliability, sharing your skills and experience, and your care and compassion for others.

03/06/2026

Date for your diaries:

Join Essex County Council for the Learning Disabilities Festival, celebrating Learning Disabilities Week 2026.

20/05/2026

We love to hear how people are doing once they move on from our Young Carers groups, so this afternoon it was great when Alfie Kempen popped in to see us, nearly 6 years on. A real chance to catch up on the challenges life has thrown at him since and to hear about him building a career in the Ambulance service. It's really affirming to hear the contribution that SCAFT's support played in Alfie's journey so-far and that things learnt then, continue to play such a significant role in his life now; although like all young carers, Alfie always was an amazing young man all on his own.

Lovely to see you Alfie and we look forward to seeing more of you soon!

27/04/2026

I dread to think quite how he feels this morning but Mike Knowlson made it across the finishing line, succeeding in an epic battle of mind over body, completing the TCS London Marathon 2026, his first ever marathon!

I bet almost everything aches and he should be hugely proud of his achievement, particularly as we can reveal he suffered a nose bleed part way through, but kept on going.

Mike has raised an amazing £1665 so far, towards SCAFT's support for children and young people across Rochford District who face the daily challenge of caring for someone in their family. It could be someone with a physical, mental or sensory disability, struggles with their mental health, has a long-term or life-limiting illness, or who has survived domestic abuse.

If you still wish to contribute to Mike's fundraising efforts you can go to his page at https://www.justgiving.com/page/charity-marathon-london-knowlson?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

26/04/2026

Congratulations Mike Knowlson on an absolutely amazing achievement! I can only guess at the effort and willpower that took, but you did it, you completed the TCS London Marathon! Our thanks for your commitment and staying power, on behalf of all the children and young people we support, who will have some amazing new experiences as a result of your fundraising.

26/04/2026

Last chance to provide vital encouragement for Mike Knowlson as he sets out this morning on his epic challenge to complete the TCS London Marathon 2026. We heartily wish him every success as he limbers up. Plenty of stretching Mike, and don't forget to breathe! We'd be right behind you but we weren't brave enough to sign up....

Please visit his JustGiving page and give him a powerboost 🏃🏼 as he begins this trial of mind and body, in support of SCAFT's mission to support those children and young people in the district who face the daily challenge of caring for someone in their family. It could be someone with a physical, mental or sensory disability, struggles with their mental health, has a long-term or life-limiting illness, or who has survived domestic abuse.

Help Mike Knowlson raise money to support Supporting Carers And Families Together

23/04/2026

Intrepid first time TCS London Marathon runner Mike Knowlson popped into the office this afternoon, having been up to London to collect his number in readiness for this weekend.
If you're watching in-person or on TV on the day keep an eye out for his number and give him a cheer as he raises much needed funds for SCAFT - Supporting Carers & Families Together, who support children and young people across Rochford District looking after a family member with a physical, mental or sensory disability, long-term or life limiting illness, mental health struggles, or survivor of domestic abuse.
Mike is aiming to raise funds towards providing these amazing children and young people with some extra special experiences, that they very likely wouldn't get otherwise. https://www.justgiving.com/page/charity-marathon-london-knowlson?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

21/04/2026

Did you know?

As well as our respite groups for young carers we also provide individual support via our One2One Service, which operates in all four of Rochford district's secondary schools and many of the primary schools we have partnerships with, including Wyburns, Edward Francis, Our Lady of Ransom, Rayleigh Primary, Holt Farm and more...

Our support workers regular visits to these schools enable young carers to have an outlet for their anxieties and concerns, to seek advice and support and to get help with conflicts between their caring role and their education, such as difficulties with completing homework, absences and lateness, or distractions hindering them engaging with learning. This support is shown to have a big impact on increased attendance and achievement levels, improved behaviour and better emotional wellbeing.

This service is currently free to both schools and young carers, so if you believe your child/young person would benefit, please talk with your school's Young Carers Lead, SEN dept or Pupil/Student services team. The service's resources are limited and demand is always high but we always aim to see as many young carers as we can with what we have, but may, at times, have to prioritise those most in need.

For many years this vital service was funded by BBC Children in Need, and more recently by discretionary funding from Essex County Council, after a nomination by local councillors. As this funding draws to a close we are very pleased to say that Rochford District Council, along with some of the parish councils, particularly Rawreth Parish Council , have recognised the importance of this work and have stepped in to fill the gap and allow this much valued and in demand service to continue.

19/04/2026

It's no time to be getting wobbly knees Mike Knowlson! As you complete your final week of preparation for the TCS London Marathon 2026 , we're all behind you (well, not literally in this case 😉)

Mike is running to raise much needed funds for our work to support the districts young carers. These amazing children and young people face daily challenges supporting a family member with a physical, mental or sensory disability, long-term or life limiting illness, mental health struggles, or survivor of domestic abuse.

Please encourage Mike by supporting him to his target and enabling him to fund this vital support for these awesome children and young people

Help Mike Knowlson raise money to support Supporting Carers And Families Together

12/04/2026

In just 2 weeks time Mike Knowlson will be undertaking a challenge many people wouldn't even contemplate, running the TCS London Marathon. We hope his training continues to prepare him physically and mentally as he builds towards this monumental trial of mind and body.

Mike is running in aid of SCAFT and the young carers we support. Anyone wishing to help him hit his target and support these amazing young people can do so via his JustGiving page

Mike joined us recently to spend some time chatting and playing with our young carers, to mark and proved to a natural, getting stuck in.

Help Mike Knowlson raise money to support Supporting Carers And Families Together