There is a drive to identify and support young carers in and around Bridport in order to give them the help and information they need.

Bridport Arts Centre and Carer Support Dorset partnered with LUNG Theatre in a bid to highlight young carers and the issues they face and to give them more recognition.

LUNG Theatre, a national, verbatim theatre company campaigning for hidden voices to be heard, brought its Who Cares show on tour to Bridport.

So, we caught up with them to see how it went.

"It was absolutely wonderful, we've really enjoyed being in Bridport," said Madiha Ansari, engagement officer at LUNG Theatre.

But, ahead of the show, the team visited the Sir John Colfox Academy and Woodroffe School to deliver workshops.

Madiha added: "It was really great the sort of engagement we've been able to create.

"We also delivered a CPD (continuous professional development) session at the theatre prior to the show and that went phenomenally well.

"The workshops were fantastic. The two schools were quite different in the sense that one school is a bit more proactive about supporting young carers in its school, so they were really well engaged and already quite aware and had a good relationship with its young carers service. The other school is on its way to creating more awareness - I think it's those schools its more important to go in.

"We had one disclosure, one young person - as a result of these workshops - came and disclosed that they are a young carer. That's what it's all about, that young people are aware and able to identify themselves."

Around 200 young carers have been identified since the project began in 2017.

The 'Who Cares' documentary play shown at Bridport Arts Centre is based on real life testimonies.

Madiha said: "We had a lot of people who felt hugely moved by the show because it's verbatim, it's true stories and the real lives of young carers. When you realise these stories are right under your nose and how there are one in 12 young people who are carers, that's two to three per classroom. A lot of people are unaware that there are young carers there - it's quite eye opening."

The 'Who Cares' tour came to Bridport as the team is keen to work in areas where there is a good young carers service.

"We were quite conscious of making sure that wherever we go, we're hoping for more disclosures and identification, but then we have to make sure there is a local young carers service that can support those young carers.

"For Bridport, the young carers service in Dorset is absolutely fantastic.

"The 'Who Cares' campaign working policy group is introducing a number of policies around schools, healthcare and local authority, which will be trailed from next year and one of the policies is around creating a young carers passport, Bridport is already doing that [the Dorset Carers Card].

"Carer Support Dorset already has some really great things in place that mirrors the policies that we are trying to introduce nationally, hence why Bridport has been a great place for us to work in.

"Also, the arts centre with where it is based, the legacy of it being a charity and they are really keen on creating education and engagement and that's what LUNG is all about.

"I think we have a really great relationship with the arts centre and whatever we programme in the future, I can't imagine Bridport not being one of our stops."

Madiha also wanted to point out that carer support services are not social services - they only want to provide support to young carers.

This is a topic we feel is important to highlight, to not let young people caring for a family member feel they are on their own or it is all they do.

If you know of a young carer in need of support, please encourage them to get in touch with Carer Support Dorset at carersupportdorset.co.uk

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