During this year’s Hay Festival, our Patron, award-winning children’s author and humanitarian Onjali Q. Raúf launched a heartfelt campaign that is already making waves across the UK – and it’s all for the unsung ‘heroes and sheroes’ we call young carers.
📚 A Story That Speaks Volumes
At the heart of the campaign is Onjali’s latest novel, The Letter with the Golden Stamp, which tells the story of Audrey, a 12-year-old girl from Swansea who juggles school, poverty, and caring for her seriously ill mother and younger siblings. Inspired by Onjali’s own experience as a young carer, the book is more than fiction—it’s a call to action.
“It is infuriating that in 2025, young carers – especially girls or those from ethnic minority backgrounds – are this ignored, this unseen to a government for whom they save millions of pounds,” Raúf said passionately. “It’s high time they be legally acknowledged and supported—not punished with missed school days, lost childhoods, and ruined future prospects” Onjali shared with her audience at Hay [1].
✉️ Postcards with Purpose
As part of the campaign, Onjali invited audience members to Hay Festival to sign postcards addressed to the Prime Minister, urging support for the Young Carers Covenant. The response was overwhelming. All 250 postcards she brought to Hay were signed, some taken and posted, others with teachers asking for more to share in their schools and some Onjali took back with her to post.
1,000 more were printed. These were to be used at the Barnes Literature Festival, where she handed out a further 590 postcards – over 300 were signed on the spot by children who wanted their voices heard. “I shall be hitting the post office shortly,” she said with a smile, “and I’m sure my post office staff will be amused”.
🖥️ Going Digital, Going National
Recognising the need for accessibility, Onjali also launched an online version of the postcard via Jotform, available on her website. This allows children to sign without needing to share personal details—making it easier for schools and families to get involved.
📝 Letters to 10 Downing Street
The campaign’s momentum didn’t stop at postcards. After a school visit, 90 pupils from Years 5 and 6 wrote heartfelt letters to the Prime Minister about young carers’ rights. Onjali now has those letters in hand and is preparing to send them off.
“I’m thrilled at the thought of hundreds of postcards and nearly 100 letters landing at 10 Downing Street in the coming days,” she said. “At the very least, I know now lots of teachers and children are speaking on the topic, and that to me, is everything.”
🎓 What’s Next?
The Hay Festival education team is now exploring ways to support the campaign further, and Onjali is committed to keeping the momentum going. “I am in it for the long haul,” she says, and with the support of schools, families, and young readers, this campaign is only just beginning.
To keep up to date on how Onjali is campaigning for us, follow her on Instagram or keep an eye out in our newlsetters.
References: [1] Press Release from Onjali Q Rauf’s PR team on 30/5/2025
