Gate To Continue Treating Young Carers

Margate Football Club is delighted to reintroduce our match day scheme to provide those who deserve it most, a VIP day out at Hartsdown Park.

Funded by the Coyler Fergusson Charitable Trust, a local Young Career (YC) will be welcome to every home game of the 2021/22 season and treated like a super star.

Picking up where we left off pre-Covid, each YC will be invited to take part in our Youth Club’s Saturday Soccer Club before meeting and greeting the First Team. The YC will enjoy a hot meal and watch The Gate in action from the comfort of the Boardroom.

A gift bag will also be provided to each YC including a signed programme, water bottle, branded hat, extra gifts from local businesses.

This Saturday, young Taylor will be welcomed to Hartsdown Park as The Gate play their first competitive match at home in over ten months, hosting Carshalton Athletic.

Taylor will be coming down to the game and given a day to remember, because he truly deserves it, as Mum Nikki explains.

“Taylor has been a young carer for a couple years now, since I became ill and then last year when I became a wheelchair user as my health worsened. He has had to help much more since then, especially when his Dad is at work."

"Taylor is the most caring, funny and uplifting boy I know who never complains about having to help me and always wants to make sure I and others around us are happy. Taylor not only does all this but is also a keen Sea Cadet who wants to join the Royal Navy as an engineer when he is older. Recently, during his first year of secondary school this year earned his bronze, silver, gold and platinum badges, form captain badge and was top child of the whole school on a number of occasions. So we are very, very proud of the caring, hard working and inspiring boy he is growing into."

"We cannot thank him enough for all he does to help care, often missing out on things due to my limitations yet never complaining and always trying to put a smile on my face.”

Jo Walbank, Children & Young People’s Locality Manager at Imago is pleased to be able to kick-start the scheme again now competitive football has returned to HDP.

“Young Carers take on responsibilities for family members with a long-term illness, disability, mental health or substance misuse issues, and we have just over 700 young cares in Thanet alone.”

“Being a Young Carer can have a negative impact on a Young Person but the Kent Young Carers service is about supporting these young people by reducing the negative impact and highlight the positives of being a carer such as increased resilience, empathy, non-judgemental attitude and caring nature.”

Powell added, “It is also about increasing the knowledge of the communities about the challenges Young Carers face and finding them support, we are especially pleased to be working alongside Margate Football Club to treat these little super stars to a great day out.”

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