Romsey Young Carers, a lifeline for children juggling school, home life, and caring responsibilities, despite celebrating 20 years of service, is now hanging in the balance and needing financial support. It was reported that the organization now faces an existential threat to its ability to help youngsters in the area due to a significant increase in demand and funding shortages.
With this weight on their shoulders and without intervention, the charity may have to cut off staff and essential services, putting the vulnerable at risk.
Hampshire Freemasons support Romsey Young Carers
Romsey Young Carers provides practical help, emotional support, and opportunities to shine that are tailored for young carers. Young Carers are children and young people whose lives are affected by caring for a family member who has long-term illness or disability, mental health problems, or issues with drugs or alcohol.
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Recently, the Hampshire Freemasons organized a Burns Night celebration at the Kings Court Masonic Center in The Hundred to show solidarity. A total of £360 was raised by the attendees who participated in the raffle draw for the struggling charity, symbolizing the growing concerns for the future of young carers within the community, the Manager of Romsey Young Carers, Chris Hall, who collected the cheque from Freemason Jerry Board, greatly appreciated their contribution.
“Every penny counts when facing a crisis like this; we are grateful to the Hampshire Freemasons for their support. However, the reality is that we need to raise at least £15,000 by the end of March to keep services running, if we can’t do this, we must make difficult decisions that will affect the children who rely on us.”
Even though the charity is a safety net for young carers, it might cease operations without securing over £60,000 in the next six months, totalling £140,000 for the year to continue its operations. Without these funds, young carers in Romsey and the southern Test Valley could lose access to critical support programs that help them balance caregiving with their education and personal lives.
Community urged to step up
Chris Hall said they have seen how incredibly generous the community have been. Still, they need more people to come through for them, reiterating the future of the young carers who have sacrificed so much for their families, how deserving they are of their help and the fact that the clock is ticking for them.
While donations from the Hampshire Freemasons are noteworthy, they can only provide temporary relief. Philanthropists, community residents and local businesses have been called upon to contribute via direct donations, fundraising events, or sponsorships.so that the organization can be sustainably supported for the continuity of its mission.
Like Romsey Young Carers, Vernon Building Society launched a remarkable £100,000 fund for charities in Wirral as part of its Community Stars initiative and newly established Vernon Charitable Foundation. This noble act stresses the importance of community support in helping charitable causes thrive.
Will more help arrive in time?
Romsey Young Carer is at a crossroads, battling to stay afloat. The question remains: Will the community and charitable organizations it has sought for support step up in time to save it?
With a looming deadline and a massive funding gap, the fate of these young caregivers now hangs by a thread.