Cumberland & Westmorland Freemasons are supporting young people caring for their family members with a grant.

A sum of £20,000 was donated to the Carer Support South Lakes charity to help young people under 18 who care for parents and other family members suffering from illness and addiction.

As many as 400 children between the ages of five and 18 will receive help and support thanks to the grant.

Young carers, who look after family members who are chronically ill or misusing alcohol or drugs, often find it hard to engage with their education and achieve significantly lower outcomes in their qualifications.

As a result of their responsibilities, young carers struggle to take part in social activities, have fewer friends, low self-esteem, poor mental health and frequently become isolated.

In South Lakeland, this sense of isolation is exaggerated as many live in rural communities with poor public transport, making it even more difficult to access support and take part in social activities.

The grant from Cumberland & Westmorland Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.

Carer Support South Lakes CEO Debi Marsden said: “We’re very grateful to Cumberland & Westmorland Freemasons for their generous grant which will make a real difference to the lives of Young Carers in our community. Due to the increase in demand for the service, caseloads have become greater to meet the needs of so many people. We’ll now be able to develop services and reach Young Carers in the more rural parts of the south lakes.”

Bill Bewley, Head of Cumberland & Westmorland Freemasons, said: “I’m really pleased we’ve been able to help Carer Support South Lakes with their hugely important programme supporting children and young people who give up a large part of their childhood to support parents or other family members with an illness, disability or addiction. There are more than 8,000 Young Carers in Cumbria and for those In South Lakeland the situation is made even worse by living in isolation with poor public transport.”