It’s time to grab the neon hairspray and clippers as MYTIME, the local charity that supports Dorset’s young carers, announces its annual Hair2Care Day fundraiser on February 18.

The event encourages people to transform their locks in wacky ways to raise money to fund the charity’s support of the often unseen and unsung young carers living in our communities.

Right now, 700,000 known children in the UK are caring for someone who is unable to cope on their own due to various reasons including disability, substance misuse, mental-health problems or other issues.

And since our readers are known for their championing of great causes, Mytime is asking you to join in the hair-raising fun.

How far you go is your call. Let your hair down, put it up or be really bold – or even bald – and shave the whole lot off! Whatever you do to your do, you’ll be supporting children, some as young as five, who are looking after family members, from getting them dressed or making their food to doing laundry and dealing with household admin. Mytime wants individuals and organisations to get involved in their mission to give children a precious window of time where they can see friends or to just do their own thing and forget about responsibilities for a while.

Penelope Day, the charity’s fundraising director says: “We know that young carers provide invaluable support to their families, but lots of people don’t realise how much they really do, because it happens behind closed doors.

“They can feel isolated, invisible and lonely because they don’t have much time to see their friends or because they don’t feel they can talk about their responsibilities. “We launched Hair2Care to give young people a day all about them, to show them that people see what they do and appreciate their hard work. “What better way to do that than with the brightest, boldest hairstyles possible?”

Mytime’s support team is largely made up of parents and people who’ve been young carers themselves, so they know the score. Laura Cole, once a young carer herself and now their level up programme co-ordinator says: “As a former young carer, I am so proud to work for a charity that is passionate about supporting these incredible young people. “I know how incredibly lonely it can feel being a young carer due to not having much time to see friends or because they don’t feel they can talk about their caring role.

Laura adds: “Mytime makes such a difference to the lives of hundreds of young carers across Dorset by providing an inclusive community and helping them feel proud of their caring responsibility. “I feel so grateful that I am a part of this team and using my own experiences to help young carers realise they are not alone.”

Last year the Hair2Care campaign was so successful, it made national news and hairdresser to the stars Lee Stafford and EastEnders actor Scott Maslen got involved. For more information visit: mytimeyoungcarers.org

You can donate via text: To donate £1, text HAIR to 70201; to donate £5, text HAIR to 70970 or to donate £10, text HAIR to 70191.