Liskeard’s Cornwall councillor Sally Hawken is being sent to prison.

She’ll join chairman Ann Kerridge and some of her fellow councillors who have agreed to be captured by Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service and to ‘go directly to jail’ at County Hall on Friday, November 18.

The punishment is not because they have done anything wrong, however, but in the hope that friends and colleagues will donate money for their release and help to raise money to support young carers in Cornwall.

All the captured councillors will have access to a mobile phone and e-mail during their time in jail which they will be able to use to contact people to help raise money in aid of Kernow Young Carers, the Chairman’s official charity this year.

Kernow Young Carers, an Action for Children project, is committed to working with children and young people to make the caring role a more positive experience by offering support, information and guidance, activities and trips, short breaks, school groups, training and educational sessions and local young carers forums.

Rosemary Foster, children’s services manager for Action for Children in Cornwall said: ’We have over 900 children in Cornwall caring for family members who may be ill or have a disability.  People are often amazed when they learn how much our young carers do to help their families. Life can be tough so it’s crucial that we offer them support in a fun and friendly environment, as well as the chance to have a break and simply enjoy being young.’

Anyone interested in supporting this worthy cause, can donate money to release the five Councillors (or if they wish, to keep them locked up for the duration of their sentence) via their individual Just Giving pages which have been set up for the challenge :