A Christmas Card celebrating the work of Moray’s Young Carers depicting a design by a 10-year-old Elgin schoolboy has been dropping through thousands of letterboxes throughout the region.
The card was commissioned by Moray’s MP Angus Robertson and his colleague at the Scottish Parliament, Richard Lochhead MSP and published by the Moray Parliamentary Office.
Backed through sponsorship from local businesses including Maclean’s Highland Bakery, Accunostics and insideMoray, the parliamentarians challenged people of all ages in Moray to design a card on a ‘Caring for Christmas’ theme.
From the dozens of entries received it was the one submitted by Elgin’s Louis Russell that most impressed judges. Louis’ artwork was described by Angus Robertson MP as “perfectly reflecting the message we wish to transmit about the stunning work being undertaken by young carers in Moray”.
The card competition has been aimed at raising the profile of the challenges facing young carers in the region and encouraging donations to the Moray Young Carers Fund, which itself was the idea of a young carer in Moray.
A spokesman for Quariers, who administer the fund, said: “The fund aims to help other young carers to overcame the barriers they face in getting involved in day-to-day activities with their friends and peers.
“These are more challenging for them to get involved in because of their caring role and family member’s disability.
“Quarriers supports young carers by working to ensure that their caring responsibilities are minimised and that young carers have the opportunity to access the full range of opportunities available to young people.”
Receiving an early Christmas present from Mr Robertson and Mr Lochhead this week, Louis said he was “very proud” that his design was used to spread the word around Moray about the unseen work being undertaken by young people.
Anyone wishing to help the Young Carers Fund is asked to send their donations clearly marked for the fund to Quarriers Carers Support Service (Moray), 44 High Street, Elgin, IV30 1BU.