Did you know we support young carers like Fraser at camp?
Fraser loves music, movies and hanging out with his friends. Now at 16, Fraser has been a young carer for his sister for thirteen years. Over The Wall Camp has become a crucial part of his life since he first attended three years ago. Camp provides Fraser a much-needed space to be himself, develop his confidence and make friends with shared experiences. We spoke to Fraser and his mum Dianne, to learn more about him and his time at camp.
Camp: a space for Fraser to be himself
Fraser was a little apprehensive before coming to camp in Scotland, but by the end of his first camp, he was hooked! The opportunity to make new friends and try a range of activities made camp an unforgettable experience for Fraser. Camp quickly became a place where he could truly be himself, and he has returned every year since!
“Camp is a magical place. It’s like Disneyland for young carers.”
After each camp, Fraser returns home rejuvenated, having grown in confidence and developed new friendships. He loves every aspect of camp, but the pool party is his favourite. Fraser really comes into his element here, singing and dancing poolside to the music and even forming a conga line to get everyone else involved!
At camp, he can be young again: “I’m a big child at camp. I get to have fun, have a laugh and be a bigger version of my seven-year-old self. You can’t always be like that outside of camp; you need to be a bit more sensible. I do try to be as big of a kid as I can – whether it’s making jokes or just being silly – but camp is the only place I can fully let loose, where I know I’m safe and I don’t have to worry.”
One particularly memorable moment involved an impromptu chase through camp involving a group of younger campers from the Orange team (age 8-10): “There was an army of Oranges chasing after me, trying to cover me in face paint. They covered me in it from head to toe, which took ages to scrub off. I absolutely loved it!”
Growing up as a young carer
Fraser was three years old when he took on a caring role for his younger sister, Erin. Erin is visually impaired and is a wheelchair user, experiencing symptoms such as hypermobility, pain and chronic fatigue. Erin has no umbrella diagnosis, so whilst all symptoms are treated, moving forward is difficult. She tries her best to mobilise, but this can sometimes have a detrimental effect on her and her family. Fraser is now the strongest in the family, so he helps Erin move around safely and sometimes has to carry her. Emotional support is another aspect of his role, not only as a young carer, but a big brother too: “Being an older brother is great fun! A sister is someone you can wind up and get in less trouble for it…although I usually do get in the same amount of trouble!”
“Fraser fell into that role without a second thought. He’s very, very caring.” – Fraser’s Mum
Fraser spoke passionately about how young carers are perceived: “People often say we have it tough and to take it easy on us – don’t do that! Although it is tough at times, only by filling our shoes would they know what it’s really like. I try and make it the best I can. Don’t underestimate us.”
The impact of Camp on young carers
Camp taught Fraser to worry less about what others think and focus more on enjoying life. Attending camp gave him the confidence to try new things and be his authentic self: “I go to camp, and I stop caring what other people might think.”
Fraser said: “It was really nice to meet people who understand what it’s like, but at the same time, it’s one of the last things we asked each other at camp. You know that everyone’s at camp for a different reason, and whatever that reason is, we need to try and make it as good a time for everybody.”
Fraser’s Mum has noticed this, too: “he absolutely loved camp. His confidence blossomed without a doubt.”
Respite for young carers
For young carers like Fraser, coming to camp may be the only opportunity for respite. Young carers don’t have to worry about anything at camp – it’s time away from their usual routine to rediscover the mischief and magic of childhood. Siblings of children with long-term conditions and disabilities may miss out on peer-to-peer engagement, social interactions and opportunities to explore their interests.
Everything at camp is inspired by our values of Belonging, Authenticity and Growth and our Therapeutic Recreation model, meaning that we provide a space for siblings and young carers where it’s all about them – what they want to do, who they want to be and who they want to become. Time away from home helps them better understand who they are outside of their caring role so they can grow into their most authentic self and create fun camp memories with their peers.
“You need a place to be free and a place where you can have a break, truly relax, not worry, and know that everything’s alright – that’s what camp can do.”
“We’re fortunate as a family that we can try and compensate for Fraser’s extra responsibilities. His escapism is music, so we take him to as many concerts as we can. We know that not every family can do that, which is why Over The Wall Camp is such an amazing charity; you don’t have to pay a penny for camp. We’re very grateful Fraser has had the opportunity to go to camp for three years running. It’s made such a difference to him; it provides the freedom and respite he desperately needs, and he’s even made a lifelong friend out of it.”
Looking to the future
Fraser is approaching his last year at camp before he ages out and graduates. He’s determined to make the most of every moment by diving into every activity, encouraging others to get involved and enjoy the experience to its fullest. Though he only discovered Over The Wall Camp recently, he’s grateful for the memories and friendships he’s made at camp:
“It’s a place I won’t forget. Camp is kind of impossible to forget.”
“If you’re offered a place at camp, don’t let anything stop you from going. It’s one of the best things you’ll ever do.”
Fraser wants to be a music teacher when he’s older because it combines everything he loves doing. The confidence he gained at camp helped him believe he could be a great teacher: “I love working with younger people, and I’m not too bad at music” (Fraser is very modest; he came runner-up in Young Musician of the Year and plays the guitar, clarinet and is learning the piano)!
Through his experiences at camp, Fraser has gained a stronger sense of self, developed leadership qualities, and discovered the power of a supportive community. As he moves forward in life, his experiences at camp will continue to shape his journey, and we wish him luck for whatever he gets up to next!
About our Health Challenge and Siblings camps
Siblings of children and young people with long-term health conditions may experience loneliness, isolation and additional responsibilities that their peers might not experience. This could lead them to feel less confident and capable in their abilities. That’s why we invite siblings to camp, too – so they can experience the mischief and magic of camp, have some respite from their caring responsibilities and have a place where they can be their most authentic selves.
