Around 150 guests from across the country attended the Cheshire Young Carers’ launch party at Eaton Park, Chester. Hosted by David Briggs, the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire and chairman of the Cheshire Young Carers board, the evening marked their official launch as an independent charity.

Guests - many of them business men and women - enjoyed champagne and canapés while pupils from the Hammond School in Chester sang in a capella style. Young carers then performed a drama expressing the challenges they face and how the charity has helped them to cope with these demands.

The event raised £19,500. Part of that was a generous donation of £15,000 from Your Housing Group for a mentoring scheme. The occasion was generously supported by M&S Bank, based in Chester Business Park.