For the last 10 years I have been privileged to support some truly inspirational young people like Elly...

The most valuable thing that the project has done for me is that they have changed how I think about caring for my family; It is no longer something that holds me back, but something that sets
me up for the future. Something I should be proud of.

My name is Elly and I’m 17 years old and i have been on the project for 5 years. I care for my mum, because she has several physical and mental difficulties that can make day-to-day life unpredictable and often challenging for the both of us. Before I joined the project being a carer had a huge impact on my social life and my education, I didn’t always see this until young carers changed it all for the better.

I found it hard to keep to deadlines and stay focused in class, as I was often tired from being awake for large amounts of nights with my mum. Physical pain often keeps her awake and if her depression is particularly bad she can be tearful or hysterical of an evening. Before joining the project my school were not aware of my situation at home so they put greater pressure on me with extra work to ensure I didn’t fall behind due to missed deadlines. At 11 year old I had little confidence and was too afraid to admit that I needed help. Once I joined the project everything just seemed easier. School was made fully aware of the circumstances I was facing and they began to support me through the challenges that arose. I felt as though I finally had someone on my side fighting my corner. I began attending group drop in sessions in school and having one to ones to keep an eye on how I was doing. I felt supported right from the start and the group sessions showed me for the first time that I was not the only one who was caring at home. 

As my confidence increased in one to one and group sessions we worked on self-esteem and this is a topic we come back to regularly. Being a carer life can end up being all about the one you care for and thinking about yourself can fall to the back of your mind. The sessions I
attended helped me to realize my own strengths and give me confidence in my talents and skills. An example of where this has had a huge impact is with my aspirations to do more with my music. I have been playing piano and guitar since i was about 10 and decided to teach myself. Writing music developed as a coping mechanism and everyone at young carers encouraged it as a positive. I eventually built up the courage with all the help from the staff here to sign up for carers got talent which was a huge step forward in my life and I only achieved it with the platform that the staff and volunteers on the project provided me with because it felt like someone believed in be.

Being sociable when you have sick parent to take care of at home can be a challenge to say the least. I always found it hard to tell my friends why I was cancelling last minute or regularly leaving early. When I joined the project and began to grow confidence surrounding the topic of being
a carer, I began to open up to my friends. Now have some of the most supportive and understanding friends that I can trust because Winchester young carers gave me the confidence to be honest with them. One to ones discussing ways to tell my friends helped me to break down the barriers of nerves and feeling ashamed that I felt that is what had stopped me doing it sooner.  Through the projects clubs and activities i have had the opportunity to meet other young people in similar situations to mine. I have built up friendships stronger than no other as we all have the greatest sense of understanding for the challenges each other has faced. Some of those I have met on the project have become some of the people I am closet to and I would consider many of them as part of a family rather than just friends.

Being a carer can be hard and used to be something i was ashamed of, I thought it was holding me back but being on the project has taught me that being a carer has actually brought many positive aspects to my
life. Because of my roles at home I am capable of running a household
financially and physically which means that I am well equipped for when I move out, go to university or have my own house to run. Other than day to day life skills, I have learnt that I have a high level of emotional intelligence that I have developed over my years of caring. Young carers have helped me to see that after getting through my own struggles, I have the ability to help others in both similar and dissimilar situations to my own. Through my roles at home I have developed a high level of patience, determination and a caring attitude, which will all help me to get through each day to my future and hopefully help a few others along the way. Before the project caring felt like a burden and something that I was alone in, but by meeting so many people in similar situations, I have
discovered positives that I never imagined could be there. 

The most valuable thing that the project has done for me is that they have changed how I think about caring for my family; It is no longer something that holds me back, but something that sets
me up for the future. Something I should be proud of.