‘Tis the season for giving, and Paragon Software Systems has made another generous donation to My Time for Young Carers, which will help the organisation to provide a Christmas party and gifts for the children.
My Time for Young Carers provides a meeting place for children and teenagers within the local community whose lives are adversely affected by the disability or ill-health of other family members. My Time offers fun group activities as well as support for those who have added caring responsibilities. Many of these youngsters were previously supported by Mid-Surrey Young Carers until it closed in 2012 due to changes in funding.
Kirsty Hudson, Paragon’s Marketing Administrator, is a helper at My Time. “I was walking down the street a couple of years ago, thinking I’d like to do some volunteer work and wondering which charity to choose. Then someone handed me a leaflet about My Time. It was as simple as that,” she says. “My Time had only one branch back then – in Ewell, and I ended up helping to establish the Dorking branch.”
My Time opened two more branches this year: one in Stoneleigh, and another in Fetcham. Together the four centres support around 50 young carers, giving them a safe place to relax, have fun, and interact with others who understand the stress that comes with the territory of being a carer.
“Our mission is to reach each and every young carer and make a difference,” says Barbara Watts, Chair of My Time for Young Carers. “Thanks to the amazing generosity of companies like Paragon Software Systems, we can afford the little extras that make such a big difference and go towards helping our young carers enjoy their Christmas just that little bit more.”
“We are delighted to be able to support such a great local organisation,” says William Salter, Managing Director of Paragon Software Systems. “My Time makes a big difference to so many young people’s lives in the local area, and we are proud to have been involved with the organisation for more than a year now.”
