A CHARITY which helps young carers through creative arts has won an award.

Create, which works with the Carers Centre for Brighton and Hove in Bedford Place, Brighton, has received the Young Carers Award.

The charity partners with the centre to support children and young people who care for someone with an illness, disability, mental health problem or addiction.

Tom Lambert, chief executive of the Carers Centre for Brighton and Hove, was delighted the charity has been recognised.

He said: “Create has a bank of artists on their books who could be musicians, sculptors, painters or animators, and they run a series of workshops with our young carers.

“Our staff identify carers who might be at risk of isolation in the school holidays, when their caring workload can often increase, and will recommend them to take part in Create workshops.

“The young people who attend the sessions get a lot out of it. Not only do they get a break from their caring duties, but also get to express themselves.

“What we have with them is a great example of partnership working.”

Mr Lambert said although Create mainly operates in London, they were able to expand their services to Brighton last year after he put in a funding bid and the charity has run a series of workshops with carers in Brighton and Hove.

He added: “We actually support carers from the age of six to 106.

People are often surprised that carers can be that young, but we are trying to reframe what it means to be a carer.

“When someone is very young, it’s typically about offering emotional support to a sibling.

“There are a lot of challenges that they face.”

Create aims to allow participants to develop creativity, social skills and confidence and build peer-support networks during their workshops as well as having fun.

Create’s founding chief executive Nicky Goulder said the award recognises the importance of the creative arts as a vital part of health and wellbeing for young carers.

She said: “Young carers continually put other people’s needs first, taking on extra responsibilities that can lead to anxiety, isolation, missed opportunities and a lack of confidence.

“I am so proud of everyone involved with Create who has enabled us to deliver this work.

“To our young carers, young carer services, artists, funders, Create staff team and trustees – this is your award.”