Category Archives: young carers

Life as a young carer

Sarah Thomas, 18, started looking after her mother, who has MS, from a very early age, and later became her dad’s carer too.

But she isn’t remotely bitter about missing out on the parts of growing up that others take for granted

Sarah Thomas

Sarah Thomas with her parents, Carole and Ray: ‘I’ve never met a young carer who hasn’t been bullied – we stand out.’ Photograph: David Sillitoe for the Guardian

Ray Thomas chuckles as he recalls the sight of bread appearing to butter itself on the kitchen counter back when his daughter was at preschool. “Sarah couldn’t reach the counter to make sandwiches, so all you’d see is the bread and knife looking as though they were doing it themselves,” he says.

Sarah has been a carer for her mother, Carole, who has multiple sclerosis, since she was small. Then, when she became an adolescent and her father was diagnosed with degenerative bone disease and fibromyalgia, she had to become his carer too. “I’ve never known anything else,” says Sarah, who is now 18 and who continues to do everything from general household chores to helping with medication, providing physical assistance, filling in forms and many other day-to-day jobs.

“One of my earliest memories was being amazed to see my friend’s mum walking. I thought all mums were disabled and all dads worked long hours,” she says, as I talk to her and her parents at their terraced home in Shrewsbury. “But I can’t say I was disappointed when I found out that my mum was different,” she adds, thoughtfully. “It has meant she’s always been around and although it’s hard to say what I’d have been like if I hadn’t cared for her from a young age, I do know I’m very independent – far more so than most of my friends.”

Pub’s pyjama event for kids and carers

National Storytelling Week

Community news and events from the Boston Standard, Lincolnshire: bostonstandard.co.uk, on Twitter @standardboston

Published on Friday 1 February 2013 12:25

A new campaign to provide bedtime packs to child carers aged 5-12 has been launched by a Boston Pub.

The Spirit of Endeavour’s Pyjama Project is taking place this week, which is National Storytelling Week until Saturday.

People are encouraged to donate children’s pyjamas or (good condition) bedtime books

Carers champion uses Facebook to help heroes

A NEW carers tsar

The city's new 'carers champion', Norman WorkThe city’s new ‘carers champion’, Norman Work

Published on Monday 7 January 2013 12:00

A NEW carers tsar is to use Facebook to reach thousands of unsung youngsters across Edinburgh who look after disabled or elderly relatives.

Councillor Norman Work, a former vice-convener for social care and housing, has become Scotland’s first “carers champion” – a post established as part of the council coalition agreement between Labour and the SNP.

One of his first steps will be to connect with the Capital’s hidden army of young carers via such social media platforms as Facebook, to make them aware of the vital support services aware to them.

He said: “We’re looking at being as accessible as possible.”

Cllr Work, whose role will see him engage with carers and act as their voice within City Chambers, recently held his first meeting with organisations representing the tens of thousands of people in the city who look after a friend or family member for free.

Following the meeting, he said he is particularly keen to engage with children who look after a parent or sibling but may not be receiving the help they are entitled to.