Get Out Get Active links with Barnardo’s to support young carers
Get Out Get Active is proud to partner with Barnardo’s Action with Young Carers Liverpool to keep young carers physically active. Our partners Liverpool City Council have teamed up with Barnardo’s to provide physical activity sessions to young carers in the local community.
The GOGA team in Liverpool are supporting Barnardo’s to offer physical activities to young people who are caring for a parent, guardian or relative, giving them a chance to take a break from their caring duties and make new friends.
To get young carers interested in the scheme, Liverpool City Council and Barnardo’s carried out an initial carer survey and asked young people about what kind of physical activities they would like to try.
The team then got to work to organise a wide variety of activity sessions that would benefit as many service users as possible.
So far, there have been online marital arts sessions (during the pandemic) and water sports, as well as yoga, walking tours and gardening activities, swimming and gym passes.
The scheme has also offered Wheels for All sessions, which have allowed young carers, the parents, and guardians they have been caring for to come together in physical activity sessions. This has given them an opportunity to relax and have fun while experiencing something they haven’t had the chance to try before.
These activities have not only improved young carers’ health and wellbeing but have also encouraged them to take part in other physical activity opportunities through Barnardo’s.
Parents and guardians have been pleased with the scheme too, as the young people now have a support network that helps them with their wellbeing.
With the help of GOGA in Liverpool, attendees are now being signposted to further support and activity sessions that help them take breaks from their busy caring roles.
This story is part of our campaign, #TheGOGAWay. Showing how the GOGA approach can help organisations do things differently across the UK.
Visit Barnardo's Action with Young Carers Liverpool webpage for more information.
About Get Out Get Active
Get Out Get Active (GOGA) is a programme that supports disabled and non-disabled people to enjoy being active together. Activity Alliance is the creator and lead partner. The programme is funded by Spirit of 2012, Sport England and London Marathon Charitable Trust.