Children and young people who help to look after a family member will receive more support, thanks to the St Ives Golf Club.

The club has opted to support the Caring Together Charity.

Both the club and Ladies’ captains at St Ives (Hunts) Golf Club have made Caring Together their charity of the year. The money they raise throughout 2024 will help fund the charity’s work with young carers in Cambridgeshire.

Young carers are children who help a family member with a long-term illness or disability.

Their caring role may include getting someone washed, in or out of bed, administering medication or doing food shopping. They may also help with cooking, washing up, or cleaning.

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Chris Spearing, club captain, said he and ladies’ captain Celia Greenaway hope their decision to have Caring Together as their charity for the year will ensure young carers in Cambridgeshire continue to get the essential support they need.

He said they had both chosen to support Caring Together Charity throughout 2024 as they and many other club members are very aware of the stresses and strains that come with looking after someone.

Chris said: “The support of Caring Together can be a lifeline for adults and children in unpaid caring roles.”

Zoe Bunter, head of fundraising and communications at Caring Together said: “We are hugely grateful to Chris, Celia and other club members  want to help us ensure young carers get the support they need.

“All of us are just one moment away from becoming a carer. That diagnosis or accident involving someone in our family can also mean our child or grandchild suddenly becomes a carer too. Their life then involves helping in ways we just wouldn’t have imagined.

Golf Club members got in the fundraising swing as soon as 2024 was underway with the New Year’s Day Captain’s Drive In.

Fundraising events will be held regularly through 2024. A focal point for raising money to support young carers will be the club’s Charity Day on August 17.

You can find out more about the charity by visiting caringtogether.org.