Beach, water and lots of games for young carers
Just being a carefree child for a while. That’s what 20 young carers were able to do this week during the Rotary Beach & Fun Week at Toms Beach. It was a week full of water sports, games, relaxation and, above all, lots of fun.
‘It was so lovely to see,’ says Lonneke Oud from Welzijn Lelystad ’s young carers’ support team enthusiastically. ‘Children who normally shoulder a lot of responsibility were able to just be children for a whole week.’
A rewarding week
Young carers grow up with a family member who is chronically ill, has a disability, is struggling with an addiction or has a mental health condition. They often help out at home and worry about their loved one. During the Rotary Beach & Fun Week, the focus was therefore entirely on them.
‘It’s the time spent together, the conversations and sharing experiences with children who are going through the same things and often feel the same way. That’s what makes this week particularly valuable,’ says Lonneke. The participants themselves recognise this too. One of the children says: ‘I’m more open here, so I talk about it much more than I do at school.’
Just let go for a while
The Rotary Beach & Fun Week was organised by Welzijn Lelystad, the Rotary Club Lelystad and Toms Beach. Thanks to the support of Jumbo Van Leijen and Hajé Restaurants, participants were able to enjoy a tasty lunch every day. After all, so many activities work up quite an appetite. For the children, the week means more than just fun activities. It also offers them a chance to let go of their worries for a while.
One of the participants puts it perfectly: ‘I’m here this week to leave my home situation behind and can be happy here and have fun playing around.’
Support all year round
Welzijn Lelystad supports young carers all year round with practical help, a listening ear and activities where they can meet other young carers. The Rotary Beach & Fun Week is a particular highlight of this programme.
Lonneke: ‘You spend a week with children who are going through roughly the same experiences at home. That creates a bond.’ Or as one participant put it: ‘I felt that the burden had been lifted. That I no longer had to carry everything on my shoulders and could just let it all out for a while.’
Take a look at this week’s programme
