Young Adult Carer becoming an advocate: Maria's journey as a Youth Engagement Intern at Carers Trust Scotland

Discover Maria's journey as a Youth Engagement Intern at Carers Trust Scotland, where she gained valuable experience in supporting young carers, developing key skills, and contributing to policy change.

My name is Maria, and I’m currently the Youth Engagement Intern at Carers Trust Scotland, thanks to the Robertson Trust Internship Scheme 2024.

This role has been an incredible opportunity for me, allowing me to take on an administrative position where I worked closely with volunteers, invited guests, and activity providers as we prepared for The Scottish Young Carers Festival 2024.

Attending the Festival was particularly rewarding. As someone who has been a young carer myself, I know firsthand how crucial opportunities like this are for young carers.

It was heartwarming to see so many young people enjoying themselves, taking a well-deserved break from their caring duties, and having fun with friends who truly understand their experiences.

Witnessing everything we had planned come to life was exciting, and I took on various roles at the Festival, including setting up and supervising activities.

Throughout my internship, I also took the chance to learn about other roles within the organisation. I joined induction calls with the entire Scotland Team, which gave me valuable insight into different positions that piqued my interest. Following these calls, I participated in shadow days to explore these roles further.

Maria and Carers Trust Scotland team

One shadow day I particularly enjoyed was with the Research and Influencing Officer. I gained a deeper understanding of the research process, reviewed recent findings from a report on older adult carers, and even brainstormed new research ideas.

Another highlight was attending a focus group with the Scottish Tech Army. The group explored whether technology could be used to assist young carers, and it was enlightening to hear from young carer workers about how apps and gaming clubs are being used to support and engage young carers.

I also had the opportunity to speak with the Carers Policy Branch of the Scottish Government. They provided me with valuable insights into how the Government collaborates with the third sector and assesses funding needs. I became particularly interested in the role of the Young Carers Network Coordinator.

Additionally, I learned about Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessments (CRWIA) and even reviewed the 2024 CRWIA for the Festival, which is crucial to ensuring the event positively impacts young people.

My induction call with the Education Officer revealed that there’s been an increase in support and understanding of young carers in schools, which was encouraging to hear.

My final induction call was with the Social Impact Team, where I learned how data from the research process is used to measure improvements in outcomes for carers.

One task that stood out during my internship was gathering information for the Minister’s briefing. This was an exciting opportunity that directly connected with my studies in social and public policy, highlighting the detailed preparation required for creating event briefings.

I also contributed to writing and designing the briefing for young carers and invited guests, which included all the information about site tours and activities for the Festival. Other tasks I helped with included creating the ID badge list for the Festival and contributing to a newsletter about Festival volunteering.

I was also fortunate to attend a residential trip with the Young Adult Carer Advisory Group. It was a wonderful day out where we visited the Scottish Parliament, went bowling, and enjoyed dinner together.

It was great to chat with the young adult carers about how much they enjoyed the residentials and the research they were involved in with Carers Trust Scotland at the Festival. This kind of peer interaction is vital because young carers often feel more comfortable talking to someone who understands their experiences.

Overall, my time at Carers Trust Scotland has been incredibly enjoyable and supportive. I’ve developed a range of skills, including communication, IT, and teamwork. I feel more confident now and am truly grateful for this experience in the charity sector.

Moving forward, I hope to continue working in this sector after University, as I find it deeply rewarding to make a positive impact on people’s lives and to contribute to meaningful policy change.