A VITAL organisation in Cirencester which gives carers as young as eight a weekly break from looking after their disabled mum or dad, is calling on the public for urgent help.

A total of 20 young children gather once a week at the Impact Centre, on Lewis Lane, to make pizzas, play pool and just relax with friends.

To anyone walking by, they would look like a group of normal 8-15 year olds having fun at a weekly youth club.

But these young people are actually taking a much needed break from their full-time job as carers.

Due to a lack of funding, this vital group is in danger of closing and is desperately in need of help. Gloucestershire Young Carers is now calling on the public for support.

Tobi Vickery, 14, attends the group each week and loves to play pool, catch up with his friends and just chill out. He has cared for two members of his family in the past.

“Dad was a major alcoholic. I had to help him home when he was drunk,” said Tobi.

“I stopped seeing him and only see him around Stroud sometimes now.

“I don’t speak to him though.”

“I haven’t seen him in a year. I now look out for my sister who has Type 1 diabetes.”

As well as receiving a well-earned break from being a young carer, the Sir William Romney’s pupil also uses the group as a way to escape from school bullies.

“I get bullied a lot about my weight so I come here to get away from it,” he added. “People are never mean to me here.”

A staggering amount of money is needed each year to provide the young carers with transport to and from the group.

Many of their parents are physically disabled and are not able to take them and certainly cannot afford to pay for their fares.

Tobi gets driven from Tetbury to Cirencester and back every week by taxi driver Malcolm.

“My mum drives but she has to look after my baby sister, who is two years old,” said Tobi, who wants to work as a primary school teacher when he is older.

Around £6,500 is needed for the group each year, just for transport.

Without Malcolm, Tobi would not be able to make it to the group as it costs GYC around £10 each week just for him to be taken to the Cirencester centre and back.

Fundraising manager at GYC Jane Dyer explained that without the vital funding the young carers would not be able to come to the group at all.

“No matter which way you look at transport, it’s a huge issue,” said Jane.

“A minibus is not an option. The driver couldn’t go to Avening and then to Cirencester and then somewhere else, or the first child he picked up would be on the bus for hours.”

Project worker for Gloucestershire Young Carers, Jess Price leads the Cirencester group and admits it is hard to see children as young as eight playing such an adult role in their households.

“They are just kids when they are here,” she said.

“They get the opportunity to come here and put their home life on pause. They go a bit crazy and can relax and be themselves.”

Former Cotswold District Council chairman Sir Edward Horsfall is on the development board of Gloucestershire Young Carers and is passionate about the longevity of the Cirencester group.

In the past he has taken the youngsters on special outings, including a trip to Corinium Museum followed by a meal at Pizza Express.

“I really wouldn’t know what to do if this group shut down,” he said.

“It’s a desperately difficult situation but we have to be so careful how to handle it.”

There are an estimated 5,000 young people in Gloucestershire who are caring for a sibling or parent.

GYC is in touch with around 1,000 of this number and supports them either through the group, through school or through home visits.

The organisation hopes to raise £10,000 to keep the sessions going well into the future.

If you think you can help in any way, either by volunteering at the group, providing your own transport for the young carers, or by donating, contact jane@glosyoungcarers.org.uk