YAC Futures is an annual event run by Gloucestershire Young Carers with the help of our supporters in the Business and Education communities. It aims to provide an informal speed-networking opportunity for young carers to meet with employers and employers to chat with young carers about their needs and aspirations.

This year the event was sponsored by Co-op Midcounties and was held at Skillzone, Tuffley. 14 companies were involved and around 35 young adult carers between the ages of 16 and 24 gave up their Easter lie-in to attend.

Businesses ranged from Paish Tooth accountancy company (whose staff also volunteered all day at the event), Stagecoach bus company and GCHQ.

The event proved to be a huge success.

One young carer said: “It was informative, a chance to ask questions. It catered to my age group and it was fun, enjoyable and an opportunity to make some new friends too.”

One corporate participant said: “It’s a wonderful opportunity to widen the horizon of people who might not know about your organisation.”