Scottish Young Carers Festival
The Scottish Young Carers Festival takes place every year and provides a chance for young carers to have a break from their caring role, meet other young carers, take part in consultation and most importantly, have fun.
The 2021 Scottish Young Carers Festival!
Despite not being able to have our Scottish Young Carers Festival in its usual format, we listened to young carers to shape what 2021 could bring!
Check out our 2021 webpage to explore over 40 workshops, covering a whole range of topics! You can also learn more about our “Young Carer Voice: Consultation Event” which provided a platform for young carers to have their voices heard by key decision makers.
The Media Ambassadors
In 2021, the Media Ambassadors once again took part online! A group of young carers created a short film in 2021 about the issues young carers are experiencing. They participated in training with Media Education and created a storyboard for their film. Filming this remotely, the group conducted peer led interviews with young carers across Scotland. Their film focuses on themes important to young carers including education, respite and loneliness.
On 7 October, their film launched at the Carers Parliament! The Media Ambassadors filmed a short presentation for this event where they discuss how they found this project and what they hope the film achieves.
"We would really like the film to reach a wide range of individuals, such as health professionals, educational institutions, youth groups, decision makers and young carers themselves. We would really like the film to educate them on the lives of young carers and help them better understand what support is needed to help young carers reach their full potential. If this works, we would hope to see them taking action and implementing positive changes to be seen in present and future young carers' lives." Megan Martin, Media Ambassador.
We encourage everyone to watch the film to hear directly from young carers.
The 2020 Scottish Young Carers Festival, “Best of the Fest!”
Our Scottish Young Carers Festival was sadly cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But we wanted to make sure that young carers were still able to connect with one another and have fun! Working with Scottish Government, young carers and their services, we held our first ever online Festival, “Best of the Fest!”.
On Wednesday 5 August to Friday 7 August, we had dozens of live activities and events including yoga, magic shows, cool creatures, circus tutorials and live music!
Our traditional marketplace at the Festival, which invites organisations to promote their services and resources to young carers was also online in 2020! Organisations such as Young Scot, the Scottish Youth Parliament and Social Security Scotland hosted live workshops for young carers and youth workers to find out more about the opportunities available.
Don’t worry if you were unable to attend our online Festival, we have saved all our resources on our new “Best of the Fest” webpage! Explore fun activities, video tutorials and useful links to organisations and services that can support you as a young carer!
Media Ambassador Team
This year, a group of young adult carers, aged 16 – 22, formed the Media Ambassador Team. The group took part in online training workshops with Media Education and created the key themes of their film. In the absence of our Scottish Young Carers Festival, the Group focused on who young carers are, what their experiences of lockdown in 2020 have been and share what support young carers need going forward. They captured content remotely and carried out online interviews for the film. Working with Media Education, the Group reviewed final cuts ensuring that this captured their key messages.
Read Sam’s experience as a Media Ambassador
On Wednesday 25th November, the film was launched at Carers Parliament! The Group will continue to promote their film to raise awareness of who young carers are and what support they need!
The 2019 Scottish Young Carers Festival
This summer, the 12th Scottish Young Carers Festival took place in Fife.
Over the three days, nearly 400 attendees took part in the fun of the Festival that provides both an enjoyable experience and some time out from caring responsibilities.
Scottish Young Carers Festival 2019 from Media Education on Vimeo.
With a range of exciting activities there was something for everyone to enjoy. Young people faced their fears at climbing activities and the challenge course; they got creative, making gifts and mementos at the arts and crafts workshops; groups competed with one another on the inflatable assault courses; and everyone had the chance to dance to music of their choice at the silent disco. Amongst the activities there was the opportunity for young people to meet and engage with MSPs and other policy-makers on the second day of the Festival.
Media Ambassador Team
We trained a group of young carers aged 16-18 to form the Media Ambassador Team at the 2019 Scottish Young Carers Festival. This was an opportunity for young people to learn practical media and communications skills to make a real impact in terms of awareness raising about young carer issues.
SYCF 2019 Behind the Scenes from Media Education on Vimeo.
The Media Ambassador Team learnt how to make films, radio inserts and how to undertake interviews. At the Scottish Young Carers Festival these young people peer interviewed young carers to give their views and opinions on a range of issues.
Scottish Young Carers Festival 2018
Young Carers Fest Film - 2018 from Media Education on Vimeo.
Further information
Follow the Scottish Young Carers Festival and our other young carer engagement work on Instagram @ycscotland