Over the Easter holidays, young carers and young adult carers from across Gloucestershire were given the opportunity to have their voices heard by meeting with their local Members of Parliament.

Members of YACtion, our young adult carers forum, met with Alex McIntyre, MP for Gloucester, to discuss the issues that matter most to them. The group shared their personal experiences and highlighted the changes they would like to see to better support young carers across the country.

Following the meeting, Alex McIntyre commented, "Thank you so much for the invite and for taking the time to share your experiences with me. Lots of lessons to take back to Westminster to make sure we’re doing all we can to get young carers the support they deserve. What came across strongly was the need for significantly better approaches to identifying young carers earlier to ensure they get the support they deserve."

‍

‍

The following day it was the turn for the 'Our Voice' young carers forum to get up close to politics. They met with Cameron Thomas, MP for Tewkesbury who spent time really trying to understand their experiences and what actions could make a difference to their lives. At the end of their meeting, Cameron signed the Young Carers Covenant, demonstrating his commitment to championing the needs and rights of young carers.

‍

‍

We are incredibly proud of and grateful to all the young people who took part in these meetings, and to both Alex McIntyre and Cameron Thomas for taking the time to listen and for recognising the importance of supporting young carers across Gloucestershire and beyond.

‍

‍