Young carers in Wiltshire have been handed a major boost, following a £43,000 grant to a Semington-based charity.

Carer Support Wiltshire has received the funds from the Co-operative Group, which raised over £5 million nationwide to support 14 to 25-year-olds facing the challenge of caring for a loved-one.

The ‘About Time’ grants will allow the charity to run a new service to provide young adult carers with information and advice around education, training and employment.

Lindsay Poulsom, Carer Support Wiltshire CEO said: “This is a great opportunity to support young adult carers at a time in their lives that often means they fall through the gap when moving between children and adult statutory and other services.

“Our young adult carers’ pilot group has directly shaped this new service so that it will meet the needs of this hidden group. We hope that through this grant more young adult carers will recognise themselves as such and contact us to find out more.”

Julian Rickman, regional operations manager for The Co-operative Food in Wiltshire, said: “There are young people in our communities taking on incredible levels of practical and emotional caring responsibilities, often at the expense of their own education and aspirations, and they desperately need our support.

“I am extremely proud that the money raised by The Co-operative and its customers is now making a real difference here in Wiltshire.”

For more information about the work of Carer Support Wiltshire visit www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk