15/03/04 - 'A Chance to Dream'

On Wednesday 17thMarch at The Alfred Barrow School, Barrow-in-Furness at 11.30am, County Councillor Joan Stocker, Cabinet Spokesperson for Education will officially launch the video information pack ‘A Chance to Dream’.  The video pack is for all secondary schools in Cumbria to use to raise awareness of young carers and the issues they have to face in life.

The information pack has been funded by Transforming Youth Work and produced by Furness Carers Association.  Cumbria County Council’s Education Service has purchased the packs for schools.

County Councillor Joan Stocker, Cabinet Spokesperson for Education is looking forward to presenting the first video information pack to The Alfred Barrow School.  She says

“The video is very moving and will stimulate debate in staff rooms and class rooms as to how we can support our young carers. They need to balance their commitment to their families and their own needs to study at school and to have a happy childhood.  Our Education Service were so impressed by the Chance to Dream project that we felt it would be of benefit to all schools to use across the County.  These will now be made available to schools through the Young Carers Projects of Eden, Carlisle, Furness, South Lakeland and West Cumbria Carers Associations.”

Marilyn Curtis, Director expressed thanks on behalf of Furness Carers Association to Transforming Youth Work and Cumbria County Council's Education Service for the opportunity to make and distribute the Video.  She says

"The Project offers an opportunity to ensure that Staff and Pupils in secondary schools throughout Cumbria are aware of the existence and the needs of Young Carers.  It will also ensure that Young Carers themselves are aware of the support offered to them by the County's five Young Carers Project's.

After the presentation, Councillor Stocker will have lunch with a group of young carers.  Anyone who would like  a copy of the Video pack should contact Furness Carers Association on 01229 822822.