26 March 2007

Norfolk County Council has unveiled a new web-based scheme to provide support for young carers.

Originally launched using mobile phones, Norfolk's Text Pals service has been extended to offer a secure online chat forum, designed to be similar to social networking portals Bebo and MySpace.

Young carers are able to use the site and corresponding mobile service to contact one another free of charge, in order to gain peer support and speak to volunteer advisors.

Rosalie Monbiot, Mabinet Member for Children's Services, said: "Young people are spending more and more time online and we need to recognise this and respond to the growth in Internet use amongst children and young people."

She also noted that the new system added to the council's range of online services, which encompasses an anonymous support service known as Aunty Blurb, part of the Norfolk Blurb site.

In the two years since it was launched, Norfolk Blurb has averaged a monthly visitor number of 10,000, receiving around 14 questions from young people each month.

© Adfero Ltd

Keep up to date with industry and Nomensa news by signing up to Nomensa newsletters.