On the 5th April 2023 YCDT delivered its second in-person Young Adult Carers’ Aspiration Conference at the University of Bath. As a small charity, YCDT relies entirely on donations and grants so are extremely grateful to the University of Bath and Bath Spa University for funding this year’s event.
The venue worked brilliantly, giving younger carers real insight into university life, its buildings and facilities and a tour at the end of the day. Young carers could choose 3 of nine workshops to attend in addition to a final Q&A session attended by all.
We have received fantastic feedback from over 40 of the young carer attendees, demonstrating not
only that everyone enjoyed the day and it helped reduce isolation and to make new friends, but also in terms of outcomes for future educational aspirations.
Many of those attending had already decided to go onto university but for the 23% who hadn’t, as a result of attending the workshops, they felt university was now an option for them - incredible!
The event was open to a wider area this year with services present from areas in which YCDT had not previously operated, including Dorset and South Wales. We hope to open referrals to Gwent from 2023 and more counties in 2024 and beyond.
