Labelled is Making Progress

Only a few short months ago, a group of young people, all carers for people with mental illness, and with mental health issues of their own, got to together and talked about forming a group to help young carers. They were painfully aware that the only support available to them was themselves, so they founded a wonderful group called Labelled – For Young Carers.

The aims of the group are simple, it is clear that in the community, and with service providers, young carers do not get the support they need to keep their own lives on track whilst caring.

Since those early days, the profile, and effectiveness of the group has grown immensely. They are proactive, they have worked tirelessly spreading their message and supporting young carers.

They considered the job description that would cover a young carers role, and made a promotional film selling the role as a job, this film was made entirely by the young carers at one of their weekly drop-ins, and is available on U-tube  and is already being used by others to highlight the plight of the young carer.

Using their contacts and experiences, they arranged for an interview recently broadcast on Radio Leicester, where a group of them spoke openly and freely about their experience and the impact of the caring role on their lives. This interview had quite an impact on the listeners, and especially on the Radio Leicester presenter who took the full interview to a BBC TV Documentary producer, who was so impressed and moved by the subject that he immediately made contact to make a 30 minute documentary about the group and their work.

There was an initial meeting in mid-June and plans are well advanced now to make the film around October for showing on BBC in the lead up to Christmas, which is a particularly testing time for carers.

The numbers attending the drop-ins is growing, and they are now reaching more and more young carers by word of mouth, social media and referrals from service providers.

The aims are clear, they want to engage with all not only all of the young carers in the County, but also the LPT and all other groups and individuals involved in mental health care. They believe, rightly, that until the stigma is lifted and all of the agencies involved work in a joined up co-ordinated way things will not improve, but their ceaseless efforts are instrumental in making this not only possible, but starting to happen.

The group is a role model, and is already working with others to set up Labelled groups in other towns and cities.

It is for me, a privilege to be involved with this group. They have seen a need, a serious need, to provide peer support care for young carers, and have moved heaven and earth to make it happen.

The Labelled story is still in it’s infancy, but is already growing and developing, so for anyone out there who is 25 or younger, and has people in their family, or friends, who have mental illness, come along to the drop-in on a Saturday, from Midday to 2:00 pm, engage with the carers, and allow them to empower you to gain the tools you need to cope with your role.

You will also have a chance for one to one conversation with someone with similar problems, who may well be able to offer you the help and support you have been crying out for.