NORTH Cotswolds Rotary Club and Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park have joined forces to organise a sponsored walk for charity on Thursday, August 18.

The walk is in aid of Carers Gloucestershire, and specifically its new project targeting young adult carers, especially in the Cotswolds.

Registration will be from 4pm, and walks of about two or four miles will start at 4.30pm. The cost of entry is £5 a head, with all under-12s going free, and the walk will be followed by a barbecue.

Anyone who can can raise £25 in sponsorship will have their £5 entry fee waived. Sponsorship forms will be available from Saturday at cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk.

Research shows that caring for a family member can have a huge impact on a young adult carer’s health, wellbeing and education. The Young Adult Carers Project is targeting carers aged 16-25, a group twice as likely to be not in education, employment or training. Many young adult carers provide 50 hours or more of care each week, which has a huge impact on their lives.

A recent Gloucestershire County Council survey identified 2,450 young adult carers aged 16-24 in the county, and within the Cotswolds it is thought there are more than 280 young adult carers.

Carers Gloucestershire have put together a project aimed at supporting young adult carers in the county, the budget for which is £68,000 over an 18-month period. They have received a grant from the Carers Trust, but they still have a shortfall of £26,000 for the project.

Graham Ogden of Rotary said: “North Cotswolds Rotary Club and Cotswold Farm Park hope that this sponsored walk will raise a significant amount to support young adult carers in the Cotswolds and the wider county.

"Please come along and enjoy a gentle walk in the beautiful Cotswold Farm Park. It should be great fun, and you will also be helping a very worthwhile local charity.

"We are very grateful to Adam Henson for allowing us to hold this event within the Farm Park, an excellent venue for an evening walk and an optional barbecue to follow.”