My Story

As a former young adult carer, I know first-hand how complex and invisible caring can be. Juggling education, work, relationships and caring responsibilities — while wanting nothing more than to feel “normal” — is a reality for many young carers, and no two experiences are the same. Understanding how we can better support young carers is the core question that drives my work.

It is this lived experience — alongside my professional work — that underpins my commitment to improving support, recognition and outcomes for young carers and their families.

I became a young adult carer in my late teens while studying at university. My mother’s health gradually declined, leading to significant mobility, heart and kidney issues that required regular dialysis and increasing levels of support. While my family pulled together, the emotional and practical impact was significant. I balanced caring, university, part-time work and a social life, convinced I was coping — until the strain quietly took its toll.

When my mother became critically ill, the experience profoundly affected me. Although she recovered and we were given another precious year together, I hadn’t recognised the impact caring was having on my own wellbeing. I didn’t ask for help or tell my university what was happening, and as a result I struggled academically and failed my dissertation.

With support, honesty and determination, I was able to retake my dissertation, complete my degree and go on to work at the university. That experience shaped my understanding of how easily young carers can be missed, and how small, timely support can make a life-changing difference.

​It is this lived experience — alongside my professional work — that underpins my commitment to improving support, recognition and outcomes for young carers and their families.ur text here...