Deborah and Emily were delighted to join presenter Julie Royce on her show, Hoolia’s Hopscotch, on Kingston Hospital Radio on Tuesday 14 July.

The interview was an opportunity to shine a light on unpaid carers across Kingston and the support we offer, while also celebrating the spirit of Mandela Day. Marked each year on 18 July, Mandela Day encourages people to spend 67 minutes helping others in honour of Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of public service.

Deborah shared her own experience of coming to us for support after her daughter was diagnosed with autism.

Having benefited from our neurodivergent carers’ support group, she was inspired to become one of our volunteers and now helps other carers navigate the benefits system, helping people through what can often be a stressful and complicated process.

“I found the support group really supportive as a carer. Following that, I felt I would like to give something back, so I became a volunteer. Now I’m supporting other carers with the benefits process because it can be extremely complicated, and lots of people need that extra support.”

Deborah

Emily spoke about the many people who don’t recognise themselves as carers and encouraged anyone supporting a family member, friend or neighbour locally to get in touch. She also highlighted the incredible contribution our volunteers make and shared simple ways people can support carers in their own communities.

“If you’re wondering how to spend your 67 minutes on Mandela Day, think about someone you know who might be caring for a loved one. Instead of saying, ‘Let me know if you need anything’, offer something specific, like picking up their shopping, dropping off a meal or sitting with their loved one while they have a cup of tea. Practical offers like these are much easier to say yes to and can make a huge difference.”

Emily

You can listen to Deborah and Emily’s interview here.

We’d also like to thank David Nicholls and Julie Royce for generously donating copies of You Are Here for our carers following Julie’s musical review of the book on last week’s programme. You can listen to that episode here.

Finance Officer

Location: Kingston upon Thames, with some hybrid working

Salary: £14,400 pro rata for 14 hours per week

Hours: 14 hours per week, part-time, with flexible working

Contract: Permanent

Closing date: Monday 17th August

Interviews: Commencing 31st August

About the Role

Kingston Carers’ Network is seeking a part-time Finance Officer to support the smooth running of our charity’s finance function.

Key Responsibilities

Working closely with the CEO, Treasurer and budget holders, you will help maintain accurate financial records, process income and expenditure, reconcile bank accounts, support payroll information and contribute to financial reporting, budgeting and year-end processes.

Who we're looking for

We are looking for someone organised, accurate and values-driven, with experience of managing day-to-day finance processes in a small or medium-sized organisation. Experience of Sage or a similar accounting package is essential, and charity finance experience would be an advantage.

Further details and application form here

A huge thank you to Vocality Surbiton for choosing Kingston Carers Network's Young Carers Project as the charity it supported at its end-of-term concert for friends and family on Wednesday 1 July at St Andrews Church, Surbiton.

Vocality Surbiton is a welcoming community choir whose members perform a varied repertoire of pop, jazz, blues, folk, gospel, spirituals and songs from around the world. The choir selected our Young Carers Project as its chosen charity thanks to choir member Nicole, our Young Carers Project Administrator, who organised the fundraising initiative.

During the evening, our Young Carers Project Manager Klaire and Support Workers Aisha and Claire gave a short talk about our work and the impact we are having for young carers across the borough. Afterwards, the team enjoyed speaking with choir members and concert-goers, sharing more about the support we provide to local young carers and their families.

Thanks to the generosity of everyone who attended, the concert raised an incredible £1109.20. This support will help us fund our exciting programme of over 20 summer activities for more than 130 young carers, including paintballing, a three-day radio drama workshop at the Rose Theatre Kingston, and daytrips to Brighton and Thorpe Lakes Aqua Park.

The money raised will also provide an ice cream for every young carer attending these activities, giving each child an extra treat and helping to make their summer even more special.

Thank you once again to everyone at Vocality Surbiton, and to all those who donated so generously, helping us provide even more moments of fun and respite for local young carers this summer.

Kingston Carers Network (KCN) has launched its 2026 Big Give campaign, Creative Connections for Carers, and we are looking for supporters to make pledges that will help bring it to life. 

Last year, supporters helped us successfully raise £10,000 through the Big Give to support young carers. This year, we will be seeking to raise £20,000 to support unpaid carers of all ages across Kingston.

How does pledging work?

The Big Give Christmas Challenge works differently from a standard fundraising appeal. Before the public December campaign begins, charities are asked to secure pledges of £100 or more from local businesses, organisations and individuals.

This year, securing £5,000 in pledges before 28 August will unlock the match funding available during the Christmas Challenge (1–8 December). Match funding is additional money set aside to double donations - which is what makes this fundraising opportunity such a powerful one.

During the Christmas Challenge itself, members of the public will be able to donate any amount. 

Why Creative Connections for Carers?

Taking on caring responsibilities can have a significant impact on a person’s own health and wellbeing. Many unpaid carers spend much of their time supporting someone else, which can leave them feeling isolated and with fewer opportunities to connect with others, pursue their own interests or take time for themselves.

Through Creative Connections for Carers, we will provide monthly creative arts activities for adult and young carers across Kingston. These activities will give carers opportunities to meet others who understand their experiences, take a break from caring and enjoy the wellbeing benefits that creative expression can bring. 

Research from Carers UK highlights the impact caring can have on carers’ mental health. Half of carers (50%) report feeling lonely and almost half (49%) have felt depressed, reflecting the significant emotional and practical pressures that can accompany a caring role.

The funding will support much more than creative materials. It will enable us to deliver high-quality creative experiences, including artist-led workshops, music, storytelling and exhibitions, with skilled facilitators and the support needed to make these opportunities accessible to carers.

We would love members of our community to support Creative Connections for Carers and helping us unlock this year’s Big Give campaign.

Anyony can be a pledger. If you would like to become one, please complete the pledge form before 28 August 2026. If you would like to discuss this opportunity further, please do contact us directly.

If you can’t make a pledge, you can still help enormously by sharing our appeal with your networks or passing it on to a local business or someone you know who may be able to. 

Hosted by YMCA Fairthorne Group and The Children's Society, the festival gives young carers aged 11 to 17 a rare opportunity to take a break from their caring responsibilities, meet other young people who understand their experiences and simply enjoy being children.

Over the course of the weekend, our young carers threw themselves into a wide range of activities, including skateboarding, water sports, dance workshops, inflatable obstacle challenges, live performances and a spectacular fireworks display.

Thanks to the generous support of Sue Osborne and her Women’s Institute committee, we were able to take twice as many young carers to this year's festival as we did in 2024. The trip was also made possible through the support of Mimi Phung, Philanthropy Manager at The Mercers' Company, whose help with our funding application was invaluable.

"I loved exploring activities that I have never participated before with my friends and overall meeting new people in a supportive environment." 

One of our young carers who took part in the festival

Our group was supported throughout the weekend by our dedicated volunteers and sessional workers Jason, Chrissy, Aamir and Bertram, whose calm approach and encouragement helped ensure every young person felt included and able to make the most of the experience.

We would also like to thank Edward Thomas & Son's Coach Company for stepping in at short notice to provide transport for our return journey after another booking was unexpectedly cancelled.

Most importantly, we are incredibly proud of the 20 young carers who attended. Throughout the weekend they showed kindness, resilience and support for one another, representing Kingston Carers Network with great maturity while embracing every opportunity the festival had to offer.

"I made loads of friends and have a fantastic time. It is fun because they don’t judge for who you are." 

One of our young carers who took part in the festival

We would like to thank The Children's Society and YMCA Fairthorne Group for organising another outstanding Young Carers Festival, and the more than 250 volunteers who gave their time to prepare meals, run activities and support young carers throughout the weekend. Their dedication helped create a welcoming and unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Find out more about the Young Carers Festival, and their plans for an even bigger 2027.

The awards were hosted as part of a partnership event organised by Kingston Voluntary Action, Kingston Council and other voluntary organisations and charities across the borough, celebrating the dedicated volunteers and teams making a real difference in Kingston’s communities.

Amanda Simner received Highly Commended in the Unsung Hero category, while John Bangs was Highly Commended in the Lifetime Achievement category.

Amanda has volunteered with Kingston Young Carers for nearly 10 years, supporting everything from office administration to weekly peer support sessions and holiday activities for young carers. During the pandemic, she also helped deliver activity packs, food parcels and essential supplies to families.

Her colleagues describe her as “the kind of person you genuinely want to bottle and keep forever” – a reflection of the warmth and reliability she brings to every aspect of her volunteering.

John has spent more than 30 years championing carers, both while working for Surrey County Council and after retiring. Since then, he has helped to raise awareness through creative projects including the Young Carers in Bunnyland and Young Carers in Space books, developed alongside author and illustrator Ana Graça and our young carers.

Earlier this year, Young Carers in Space reached an extraordinary milestone when it was selected as a CBBC Bedtime Story. It is the first time ever one of their bedtime stories has centred on a young carer, a remarkable achievement reflecting John’s determination to make young carers a topic of national conversation.

“Both Amanda and John are the kind of people who quietly get on with making an enormous difference. They don’t seek recognition, but over many years they have devoted so much of their time, energy and commitment to Kingston Carers Network, and we are incredibly grateful for everything they do.”

Jess Burrows, Volunteers Manager

Congratulations to Amanda and John on this well-deserved recognition, and thank you for everything you do for carers across Kingston.