Grant brings young carers music boost (From This Is Wiltshire)

Young carers from across Wiltshire are benefiting musically from a grant of £75,580 by Youth Music.

Over the next 18 months, 144 young carers between the ages of seven and 18 will take part in a series of creative music projects, called Listen to Us 2, in partnership with Bath Philharmonia.

The projects will involve groups of young carers spending five days working with musicians, leading up to a live performance. They aim to aid the social and personal development of participants, as well as giving musical skills.

Young carers have significant responsibilities, caring for a seriously ill or disabled family member, and may have difficulties at school due to their responsibilities.

Each course will be led by Bath Philharmonia’s director of music, Jason Thornton, who has led four similar projects in the Salisbury area.

He said: “We aim to give the young carers an aspirational element to their lives, which will put them at centre stage and let them have a voice. Music is a fantastic medium for doing that. “Everyone is musical in some way or another and can express themselves through music.”

Many of those involved will have no musical experience, but will be supported by the Youth Action Wiltshire’s Young Carers Service.

Young Carers Service manager Niki Andrews said: “Being a young carer often means missing out on extra-curricular activities. “We know that the Listen to Us project not only inspires but also develops aspirations for the future. “ The first performance will be held at the Pound Arts Centre, Corsham, in March.