This Young Carers Aliens Day we worked with schools in Oxford to deliver workshops for 50 young carers and their chosen friend, hosted by Windmill Primary School and funded by Carers Trust. It was lovely to be able to do something in support of such young carers in Oxford.
Rab Ferguson, who has written 2 books about young carers meeting aliens in The Late Crew series, read from his book as well as talking about young carers and encouraging craft activities.
The books are very vocal and there was lots of wind howling and owls twit-twooing. Incredible alien lands were envisioned with spectacular surfaces. Gruesome aliens coming to exterminate the earth and all humanity were popular with the slightly older children from year 5 and 6, but the year 1s and 2s plumped for more friendly heart covered ones.
The event was aimed to give young carers a break and feel special. We have also delivered more free books to other schools.
Here’s a selection of comments from the children:
“It was good to see other young carers, I didn’t realise there were so many. I really liked it.”
“I liked it because we met an author and he signed our books. I was pleased that I wasn’t there by myself and that there were other children there, but I enjoyed going with my friend too.”
“I would like to go again. If I had to mark it, I would give it 100/100. Thank you”
…and their class teachers:
“They both loved it. They described to me what they did in the workshop. K loved designing and making his alien and was really proud that he knew how to make it 3D (he showed me how)”
“K loved making up a story. They loved that that they met a real famous author and used these words to describe the workshop: exciting, creative, fabulous. They were buzzing.”
“T absolutely loved it, little things like this makes everything.”
Rab says, “It’s my absolute favourite reading the books with groups of young carers – especially when afterwards the young carers make up their own alien stories, like the fabulous kids from Oxford schools did!”
