YORK Carers’ Centre is celebrating after being given a grant for nearly £43,000 to help unpaid young adult carers in the city.

The Priory Street-based organisation will support and improve services for 14 to 25 year-olds caring for others with the grant - which has come from The Co-operative Group.

The bank chose the Carers Trust as its charity of the year and staff, members and customers raised £6 million.

Carole Zagrovic , manager at York Carers’ Centre, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the support from Carers Trust and for the enthusiasm and fundraising feats of staff, members and customers of The Co-operative.

“The grant will make a huge difference to our work. It will enable us to continue to support existing Young Adult Carers and to identify and support hidden and hard to reach . I feel the key is to work in partnership with other organisations in York so no carers fall through the gap that is left when a young person turns 18.

"Young adult carers are often the glue that hold families together and, thanks to this grant programme, we can continue to enhance and develop the support and services that these young people need and deserve.”

York Carers’ Centre marks its 5th anniversary as an independent charity this summer - it was previously part of North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust.

There are an estimated 500,000 unpaid young adult carers in the UK who take on practical and emotional caring responsibilities for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems, and who cannot cope without their support.

For more information about the work of York Carers’ Centre visit www.yorkcarerscentre.co.uk