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Researched by: York Young Carers

Designed by: Zoe Phillips - By Deckle and Hide

Unpaid Young Adult Carers aged 16-25 from the York Carers Centre worked with artist Zoe Phillips to represent unpaid carers in York, including both identified and hidden carers. The group reflected that carers share similar experiences and circumstances but have unique stories in their own right. Therefore, it would be difficult to find one Trailblazer to represent them all. They felt the sculpture would be impactful if it enabled carers to recognise themselves as Trailblazers for the roles they hold, sacrifices they make and difficulties they go through for the love of the person they care for.

"It should be not what it appears - with lots going on underneath."

The group were taken by the grace of the Tansy Beetle’s exterior, also the power and resilience of the driving legs and inner workings underneath the shell. They felt this gave a perfect metaphor for a carer.

❝The inspiration for this piece was the Young Carers group themselves, celebrating their own journey as trailblazers. So much work goes on beneath the surface that many remain unaware of. The cogs represent these inner workings and acknowledge that time is an ever present narrative.

The response to this brief shows the inner workings and the complex and multifaced roles that individuals take on. The piece invites people to reframe how they may view the world, to reflect upon assumptions and expectations, to think about barriers to inclusion and accessibility and ask whether sometimes we are are too quick to judge, do we really know all that's going on beneath the surface?

This piece was especially influenced by the work of Mark Doel, who explored Social Work through associated objects. This very element and connection with the inanimate runs heavily through Zoe's work, she trained as a prop maker and has always created objects to facilitate the telling of a narrative. Zoe also has a passion for traditional crafts, much of her work is with brass, porcelain and leather.

The trail is a fantastic was for the community to come together creatively and celebrate, educate and explore the incredible people and groups within York both from the past and currently; inspiring and celebrating future trailblazers.

Working with the Young Carers group is something close to my heart, facilitating and celebrating voices and individuals that may find it difficult to find time and space for themselves. Giving opportunity to invite others to learn more, and ask questions about the challenges faced and how individual paths are forged forwards. Like the Tansy Beetle, obstacles are overcome, and just as the beetles population has slowly started to build again, how important is it for people to come together, and how important 'community' is for support, strength and progression.❞