Fun, freedom and friends for young carers

Fun activities for young carers to allow them time to be care-free

We run youth clubs and holiday activities for young people aged between 7 and 16 in and around Epsom, Ewell, and the Mole Valley whose lives are adversely affected by the disability or ill health of family members, or who have additional caring responsibilities because their families are in crisis.

We help them forget their troubles, meet other young carers and have some special time which is all about them, with no distractions. It’s all free - fun, food and transport. Get in touch today!

Why is it important to help?

  • It is a well-known fact that young carers are less likely to achieve their potential.  At school they are often bullied, have trouble with studying and getting homework done and find it difficult making friends.  It’s hard taking friends home if mum and/or dad aren’t well, your brother or sister is likely to have an episode or you have too many chores waiting for you.  There’s so much stress involved.  It’s not just about the present situation; worrying about the future also takes its toll.

    Too often these young people go unrecognised.  At My Time we describe these young people as being almost invisible – a sad situation that needs to be changed.

  • We need to raise £35,000 per annum to give our young carers care free time away from the stresses at home. We are a true community group. We don’t receive any statutory funding, so it is the money raised and donated by local people and organizations that enables us to continue giving our young members care free breaks. Because of the financial support we receive from the public and the amazing input from volunteers, we are able to provide free transport, food and activities for our members. We spend our money wisely, and even though trips out are far from cheap, we are able to produce a very varied programme of activities.

  • Young carers are children or teenagers who provide care and support to another family member, who are often unrecognised and unsupported.

    Some young carers regularly carry out significant caring tasks and assume a level of responsibility usually associated with an adult, to help a parent, brother, sister or other relative who suffers from physical or mental ill health.

    There are many other contributory factors that impact negatively on the lives of young carers. Living with a sibling with challenging behaviour or with developmental problems can be very difficult. Similarly, living with someone with a serious illness or an alcohol or drug dependency, unsurprisingly causes anxiety and distress.

    We believe that any child or young person becomes a carer when they are put in a situation in which they feel the need to protect or support another family member. If you know a young carer or are a young carer yourself who would enjoy My Time membership, please contact us and we’ll get back to you quickly.

Take a look at what your donations or fundraising could help with……

We run weekly clubs for all our carers but also put on special events and outings throughout the year. Take a look below at what’s coming up!

Here’s a few comments from our young carers

‘I like meeting new people who relate to me and trying all the activities.’

‘I like coming to My Time, it gets me away from my sister. I really like hanging out with my friends.’

‘I love My Time, it’s great to get out of the house and try doing different things. I must love it I have been coming for years!’

Our News

My Time would not be a reality without the fantastic community support from the following organisations. Thank you!