Sarah-Jane Wood cares for her mother, who has cerebral palsy

They are attending a Young Carers Festival at Fairthorne Manor, near Hampshire, hosted by the YMCA and The Children's Society.

Kent carer Sarah-Jane Wood, aged 15, from Sheerness, who looks after her mother and father, has not had a weekend off for about eight years.

"It is going to be fun - relaxing - I'm going to really enjoy it," she said.

Support groups

Sarah-Jane's mother has cerebral palsy and her father has Crohn's disease.

"It is going to be my first weekend for about eight years when I haven't got my parents to worry about," she said.

The theme for this year's sixth annual two-day festival, chosen by the children, is Taking Care of Ourselves - mind, body and spirit.

Activities for the 530 young people will include canoeing, abseiling, a football tournament and a chill-out zone.

"For a lot of the young carers, the only chance they get to be children and to take back some of their lost childhood is on events such as this and with the support groups that we run," said Chris Lovelock of Swale Young Carers Project.

Lobby government

The Children's Society said there were more than 18,000 young carers in the South East, who seldom get a break from their home responsibilities.

At least one in seven of the children spends more than 20 hours a week caring for a parent.

The society lobbies government to make changes to help the children and the weekend will include a question time event with a panel of young people and MPs.

Annette Brooke, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for children and young people, and Conservative Tim Loughton, shadow minister for children, will be taking questions.

The Children's Society said various arrangements were made to look after parents while the carers were away.

"Respite care is one of the things we are campaigning for," said a spokesman.