I recently applied for some money from Carers’ Trust to fund some small group workshops and activities. The aim of the sessions was to support young carers to feel comfortable to talk about their emotions and what they can do to cope if their emotions start to overwhelm them.

I decided to split the groups into boys and girls because I think this helps to make sure everyone feels comfortable to bring up things that might be personal or difficult to talk about. The workshops both took place on Saturdays and involved lots of games which focussed on feelings (with plenty of prizes!)

One game we played was Emotions Bingo:

Everybody had to try to be the first to get a row and then match each feelings word to a picture of someone. How we imagine each feeling to look can be different for each person so there were no right or wrong answers. What feelings do these pictures look like to you?

Another game we played included picking situations out of a hat and deciding how each situation would make us feel. We then had to shoot a basketball through either the ‘comfortable feelings’ or the ‘uncomfortable feelings’ hoop with prizes for each time we scored.

I also included an arty minecraft activity, because everyone seems to love minecraft! The aim was to build a creeper out of clay and to make sure its face portrayed whichever emotion the young carer chose... here's a brilliant example:

After several more games and activities, it was MILKSHAKE TIME! Each young carer made their own milkshake with plenty of marshmallows, whipped cream and tasty toppings.

After drinking half of the milkshake, we practised a breathing technique which can be used to cope with uncomfortable feelings:

We breathed in through our noses for 3 counts…

held it for 2 counts…

and then breathed out through our straws for 3 counts, making heaps of bubbles!

This is definitely one to try at home… but be prepared for lots of mess to clean up afterwards!

The workshops were followed by a well deserved treat. The girls had a trip into London to the theatre to see a performance of Cats the musical and the boys hopped on a minibus for a morning at AirHop. Well done to everyone who got involved!

From everyone here at the YCP, and especially from me (Andora), we would like to say a HUMUNGOUS thank you to Carers’ Trust, Comic Relief and British Airways who kindly funded these workshops and outings through the Flying Start project. We really appreciate your support and feel that the young carers who came along got so much from it.

Check out Carers' Trust on Twitter @CarersTrust for info, action, help and advice for carers of all ages.