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Other People’s Stories

Hear from other Carer’s

Story from a young carer

I’ve been involved with The Care Collective (formerly Carers Trust South East Wales) for a few years now. I wasn’t aware that I was a young carer before I joined the service and just that simple identification changed so many things for me. I will forever be so extremely grateful for all that the services and the people involved have done for me.

As a young carer, it’s very easy to become overwhelmed and overloaded with what becomes your daily life and routine, whether that’s having to wake up extra early before school to try and finish your homework that you weren’t able to do the night before because the person that you care for was having a crisis and needed your help, having to research the condition of the person you care for so that you are able to feel confident enough to help them and support them, having to prioritise doing all of the household chores and tasks over seeing your friends because nobody else is able to do them. You have all this on top of your own issues and responsibilities.

Whilst your friends are out and having fun, you’re doing a First Aid Course just in case anything happens at home. It’s like a whole other world and you can start to feel isolated and alone which really does impact your mental health.

The Care Collective were a lifeline for me. They supported me not just with my caring role but in building and strengthening the skills that I needed to start focussing on my future and my growth as a young person with ambitions and aspirations, not just as a carer.