AS the nation prepares to sit down to watch Pudsey Bear and a host of celebrities raise money for Children in Need on November 18, many young people in Cumbria are already benefiting from the BBC's charity.

Carer Support South Lakes received funding from Children in Need to provide activities at home during the pandemic for Young Carers in Cumbria. In previous years Young Carers have also benefitted from Pudsey Bear’s funding through Furness Carers and Carer Support Eden.

A Young Carer is someone under 18 who helps look after someone in their family, or a friend, who is ill, disabled or misuses drugs or alcohol Carer Support South Lakes CEO, Debi Marsden said: "Being a Young Carer can affect a young person’s health, social life and self-confidence.

"Many Young Carers struggle to juggle their education and caring which can cause pressure and stress. In a survey, 26 per cent have been bullied at school because of their caring role. And 1 in 20 miss school because of their caring role. But young people can learn lots of useful skills by being a young carer.

"We offer Young Carers the chance to be young people free from their caring responsibilities through activities, social opportunities and clubs, day trips residential holidays and one-to-one support, which Children in Need has previously supported. However, during the pandemic, we had to find new ways to support our Young Carers, and Children in Need provided us with a Stay at Home activity pack which can still be downloaded from our website.

"Now we are back to providing face-to-face support and activities, and we are very grateful to Pudsey and the team at Children in Need for helping our Cumbrian Young Carers.”

Young carers in South Lakes looking for advice and support can contact: admin@carersupportsouthlakes.org.uk or call: 01539 815970.

Young carers in Furness can email: admin@furnesscarers.co.uk or call: 01229 822822.