Young Carers Festival
Every summer, we partner with YMCA Fairthorne Group to host the largest festival in the world for young people with a caring responsibility at home.
What does the young carers festival offer?
The Young Carers Festival (YCF) is the biggest gathering of young carers’ in the world. It is an annual must-attend event for young carers to have fun, unwind, make new friends and try new things.
It’s also a political platform for young carers to be heard and influence change.
Event highlights include lots of outdoor activities, fairground rides, live music, water activities and fireworks!
Who can book?
The Young Carers Festival is aimed at secondary school aged young carers from 11-17 years, with all young carers attending as part of an organised group.
If you’re a young carer but not linked with a young carers group, find them in your area via Find your Service or come with your school group. The festival is a great way to meet new friends or get to know others better.
A quote from a young carer
"It's allowed me to make a lot more friends." "It's allowed me to make a lot more friends."
young carers festival video
Areas and activities
- Fairground rides: various ones, from the giant swing ride to the dodgems
- Water sports; try paddle boarding and kayaking
- Activities: fly through the trees on the zip wire, test your skills on the climbing wall, see how many crates you can balance
- Crafts: make something to take home to your loved ones or for your own memories
- Voice Zone: come and have your say on what matters to you!
- Evening entertainment – from an outdoor movie, to live bands, to DJs, to fireworks or laser shows! Dance the night away under the stars!
The details
The Young Carers Festival returns from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th June! The Children’s Society is proud to once again be working in partnership with YMCA Fairthorne Group to bring together Young Carers from across the country in a weekend of fun, respite, and recognition.
As we head into the festival’s 26th year, we’ve got big plans ahead. Book your group’s tickets now in our New Year sale to secure the best deal on the greatest festival around.
Ticket Prices
Until February 15th, you can get your groups tickets to YCF for a lower price.
You can see the full price and breakdown per person below, during all of our buying periods.
| Ticket type | New Years Sale 12/01/26 – 15/02/26 | Early Bird 16/02/26 – 31/04/26 | Standard 01/05/26 – 31/05/26 |
| Young Carer | £110 | £120 | £130 |
| Young Carer + tent | £120 | £130 | £140 |
| Staff | £55 | £60 | £97.50 |
| Staff + tent | £65 | £70 | £107.50 |
Travel Grant
Through funding provided by CareTech Charitable Foundation, we are able to offer travel grants to assist with the cost of travel to the Young Carers Festival. This is based on the distance from your Young Carers Service/School to YMCA Fairthorne Manor, Southampton, SO30 2GH.
Grants are available only if your service does not have other funding specifically for YCF travel. Grants are paid prior to the festival. Your service will need to complete a short feedback form and invoice The Children’s Society.
- Up to 50 miles - £100
- 51 to 100 miles - £200
- 101 to 200 miles - £400
- 201 to 300 miles - £600
- 301 to 400 miles - £800
- 400+ miles - £1000
We have a limited amount of grants on offer. Completing an application does not guarantee funding, and we will be in touch to confirm the agreed amount.
Applying is simple: select “yes” when asked if you want to apply for a travel grant and complete the questions in the booking form.
Webinar - Q&A session
If you have or have not attended the festival before, join our webinar session with our experienced staff who can answer all your questions.
They will walk you through what to expect from the festival, answer your questions, and share helpful tips on planning your visit and making the most of your experience.
Save the date
- For Schools ‑ Monday 26th January, 1pm ‑ 2pm
- For Young Carer Services ‑ Monday 26th January, 2:15‑3:15pm
If you have any general questions regarding the festival, please email include@childrenssociety.org.uk.
If you have any questions regarding booking, please email ycf@ymca‑fg.org, or call where they will be able to support you.
For any further information on attending the festival, visit YMCA Fairthorne Group's website.
The 25th Anniversary of the festival took place from 27th to 29th June 2025 and was attended by 800 young carers from all over the country. Watch the video!
'You really do have the time ofyour life here.' 'You really do have the time ofyour life here.'
Get in touch about the young carers festival
Get involved
If you want to support the young carers festival you can volunteer, support, donate or sponsor young carers to attend.
For information on getting involved, please get in touch.
