Oxford United striker Matt Green and midfielder Ashley Cain visited the Oxford Young Carers (OYC) project this week and enjoyed a kick-about followed by a question and answer session with some 8-11-year-old young carers.

The players presented the excited young carers with complimentary tickets to a forthcoming match and signed autographs, followed by a photo shoot.

John Armstrong, community scheme manager from Oxford United Youth and Community Sports Trust, has been working with the Young Carers for the past two months teaching skills and playing small-sided games.

One Young Carer said: “This was really cooI . . . I hope we get to do it again!”

Josie Harvey Jones, a support worker, said: “It is so rewarding to see the confidence that our young carers have gained through their experience with Oxford United.”

In Oxfordshire there are an estimated 11,000 unidentified young carers, who care for someone in their home with disability, mental health or drug and alcohol misuse.

The project works with more 200 young carers in Oxford city, continually working to raise awareness of young carers Anyone wanting more information can look at the Oxford Young Project website www.coolyoungcarerscare.com If you think you might be a young carer then email youngcarers@ carerscentre.co.uk Anyone wanting to make a donation should ring 01865 205192 and ask for the Young Carers manager, Verity Falvert-Martin.