Charlie from Coalville, aged 15, has been his mum Sarah's carer since she was in a serious car accident.
He helps with everyday tasks like household chores, giving out medicine or even making sure household bills are paid. Although Charlie is dedicated to his mum and wants to help, it has also had a big impact on his life.
In December 2022, Charlie was invited alongside other young carers to a meeting with Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza. He read out a letter written based on his own experience. Read Charlie's words below:
Hi, my name is Charlie, I am a young carer, I am 14 years old, I care for my mum who suffers from health disabilities like Fibromyalgia, and physical difficulties like not being able walk much as a result of my mum having a serious car accident when I was 4 years old.
So I've been a young carer for 10 years.
As it is just the two of us, I help my mum with tasks around the house. An example of what I do is anything from the washing, hoovering, and cooking. I help my mum with her medication and sometimes I have helped with personal care and getting dressed. I also help my mum if she needs anything else.
Being a young carer does affect my life. It limits me from being able to join group activities in the evenings. This is because it leaves my mum alone and she is known to have falls in the house, both when I’m there and when I’m not. So, I can’t go out as much as my friends do, as I worry about what will happen to my mum.
I struggle to be able to go and meet up with my friends too. The number of calls, texts, and knocks at the door from my friends inviting me to join them has nearly stopped. Some of my friends understand and come to my house instead but others don't understand and just leave me out.
Being a young carer affects my school attendance. This is because if my mum’s carer doesn't turn up then I must stay until my Granny can get over to help.
I think some teachers understand my role of a young carer, but other teachers do not accept or believe that I am a young carer. Even though I have a Young Carers ID Passport.
I'm always thinking of my mum when at school which can distract me from completing schoolwork, I’m not allowed to phone my mum to see how she is doing which makes me anxious.
The knock-on effect of all of this is that I don’t want to go to school, and my education and grades suffer.
I used to go to my grandparents when I was younger to stay over on a Saturday night. Now I'm older and my mum needs more support I don't go to stay anymore. I meet up with my Grandad on a Saturday or Sunday morning and we go to golf for a few hours. In the time I'm away I am checking on my mum to make sure she is ok and taken her medication. I do panic when she is on her own whilst I'm enjoying time with my Grandad.
I feel guilty.
Why?
Because I can't be there for my mum all the time. I wake up thinking is my mum ok and not been poorly through the night.
I love my mum and will do anything for her. Even though she is always telling me to go with my friends and be a teenager.
I go to a young carers group on a Monday night 5.30-7pm. I can go there to meet other young carers who live close to me. I prefer being with the youth workers though. We do different activities each week from baking to arts and crafts. I enjoy the random conversations we have on everything from school to favourite sweets!!
I attend a young carers’ County Youth Council group fortnightly online. This group is young carers from different parts of Leicestershire who meet up and share opinions and ideas. We discuss topics to help improve the young carers service throughout Leicestershire. We have produced information for GP's. We have done a presentation at a service meeting, and we have won an award for being the best Volunteer Team.
Young Carers groups have helped me meet other people in same situation and understand how I'm feeling, without both young carer’s groups I wouldn't have had the support, help and guidance that I needed.
Being a young Carer affects every aspect of my life.
Person:Charlie, young carer
Although he has support from family, it can often be overwhelming for Charlie as he misses out on activities that are deemed ‘normal’ for his age. Since reaching out for help from our young carers team, his life has been made a lot easier.
If you think you or someone you know could be a young carer, visit our website, or email youngcarers@leics.gov.uk