Young carers have shared their personal stories with senior leaders at the Northern Health and Social Care Trust.
They were invited to attend a recent Trust Board meeting where they talked candidly about their caring roles, and described how caring for a family member from a young age had impacted on their own lives.
Speaking afterwards, chair of the Northern Trust Board, Anne O’Reilly, commended them for their “remarkable resilience and maturity”.
“It was both a privilege and a pleasure to hear from these young people. Their words carried real impact for everyone in the room; their stories were very powerful and moving,” said Ms O’Reilly.
“I, along with the Chief Executive, have given a commitment that we will open up regular engagement with these young carers so that there can be listening, learning and communication around some of the barriers and constraints that exist around getting the right support in place to help ease the burden on young people who are providing a full-time caring role for a loved one."
The Northern Trust’s Head of Equality, Alison Irwin, who attended the Board Meeting with the young people, said:
“Earlier this year our Carer Hub hosted a group of young carers who met with Trust staff to discuss how caring affects them.
“They asked if they could return and meet with Senior Leaders so we were delighted to facilitate this on Carers Rights Day when we welcomed three young carers to attend Trust Board.
“The theme of ‘your rights: today, tomorrow and in the future’ allowed the young carers, with the support of Barnardo’s Young Carers Service, to discuss what caring as a young person is like and what support can make a difference to them.”
Eileen Maguire, from Barnardo’s NI, said:
“We are immensely proud of our young carers and their dedication is second to none. They are deeply committed not just to the people that they care for but to ensuring that other young carers just like them have the support that they need.
“Young carers have unique burdens placed on them and it is remarkable to see how they meet these challenges. We see this every day in our work at Barnardo’s. Their own words are testament to just how difficult things can be for them at times.
"One young carer said that ‘I was never asked how I felt or indeed what supports I thought might help me or my family, yet I was the one who was doing all the caring’ and another: ‘I had to take on responsibilities that even an adult would struggle with.’
“We are grateful to the Northern Trust Board for meeting young carers and hope that they will continue to listen to their concerns and work to help them in every way possible.”
If you are a young carer who provides support to a sibling or parent, the Carer Hub at the Northern Trust can help to signpost you to support opportunities.
The Hub is available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm by ringing 028 2766 1210 or email carerhub@northerntrust.hscni.net to find out more.