A Summer of Fun for Dudley Young Carers 🌞💜

We’re delighted to celebrate the success of this year’s Dudley Young Carers summer holiday activity programme, funded by the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. It has been an inspiring and fun-packed few weeks filled with joy, laughter, and new experiences for local Young Carers.

Over the summer, Young Carers enjoyed a wide variety of exciting opportunities. The programme began with an End of Term Disco and went on to include go-karting, adventures at Dudley Zoo, and a relaxing scenic canal trip. The fun continued with youth clubs featuring visits from the amazing Animal Man, an inflatable assault course, and creative sessions such as arts and crafts and tie-dying socks.

Young Carers also built confidence and friendships through pizza making, sports, and biscuit decorating – giving them well-deserved time away from caring responsibilities. These sessions gave children and young people the chance to simply have fun, try new things, and connect with others who understand their journey.

The impact has been clear: Young Carers have gained new skills, made special memories, and most importantly, had time to just be children and young people. Some took part in their very first session, but we’re sure it won’t be their last.

This year’s programme provided nearly 200 places across eight sessions, with around 70 Young Carers aged from five to 17 taking part. Each session included food, ensuring Young Carers could enjoy a complete day of activity, fun, and nourishment.

Behind the scenes, a huge amount of planning and organisation goes into making a programme like this possible. From securing funding and planning activities, to booking venues, coordinating staff and volunteers, and arranging meals, the work begins months in advance. Thanks to the dedication and creativity of the team, everything came together to deliver a smooth and memorable summer programme.

👏 A big thank you to everyone who contributed to making this holiday programme such a success. You have helped create a summer filled with joy, laughter, and lasting experiences for Dudley’s Young Carers.