THE VERSE PUBLISHED IN THIS POETRY BOOK WAS WRITTEN BY YOUNG CARERS

Young carers are children and young people who have a caring responsibility for someone in their family who has a physical or mental illness, a disability, or a substance misuse problem. In addition, they are often also responsible for younger siblings and all the household chores. The 2001 census found that 175,000 oft heUK’ s5. 8mi l l i oncar er swer eunder18.

Young carers are children and young people who have a caring responsibility for someone in their family who has a physical or mental illness, a disability, or a substance misuse problem. In addition, they are often also responsible for younger siblings and all the household chores. The 2001 census found t hat175, 000oft heUK’ s5. 8mi l l i oncar er s were under 18.

T heChi l dr en’ sS oci et y Young Carers Initiative Unit 2, Wessex Business Park, Wessex Way Colden Common Tel: 01962 711511 Fax: 01962 711512 Email: [email protected] Website: www.youngcarer.com Supporters Action Line 0845 300 1128 T he Young Car er sI ni t i at i ve i spar tofT he Chi l dr en’ s Society. We offer information to young carers and their families. We also offer information and training to anyone who works with young carers and their families across England and the UK. We are campaigning for whole family support. If you need help, for yourself or for your family, first try to find someone you can talk to that you can trust, for example a close family member or friend, a teacher or doctor. Also you can log on to our project page at www.youngcarer.com to see if there is a local young carers project near you. They will be able to give you information about the kind of help your family might be able to get. You can also ring us on 01962 711 511.

The photographs in this book were taken at the 2005 Young Carers Festival at YMCA Fairthorne Manor by Max Alexander and Sue Campbell.

Useful Websites www.fairthorne.co.uk –to find our more about the work of the YMCA Fairthorne Manor www.disabledparentsnetwork.org.uk –Disabled Parents Network is a national network for disabled parents. www.youngcarers.net –The Princess Royal Trust for Carers website for information, advice and support. www.youngcarer.com T heChi l dr en’ sSoci et y,Young Carers Initiative website.

YOUNG CARERS WHO WE ARE

Young people Of every kind Upsetting it may be Nationalities of all kinds Grown ups they may look after Caring people Always there Respectable Extraordinary Ridiculously kind SPECIAL PEOPLE By Sabrina Gosport and Fareham

Note everyone has enough luck To smile everyday Some kids have tough lives In all sorts of different ways T hat ’ swher eYoungCar er scome to help To enjoy yourself You will soon feel better With your inner self Then soon you will find You’ r es mi l i ngonyourf aceandi n your mind.

We are from Oaklands hey you Come and see our view Our swimming pool is like an ocean We can make up a great big potion Under it all we arrive like thunder We float like a feather We sink, never If we jumped off a boat We would all float We all care and Treat everyone fair We’ r el i kes i s t er sandbr ot her s Just from different mothers We might speak different languages But we all eat the same sandwiches Southampton Young Carers Projects Oaklands School Group

I used to feel alone But now I am not Young Carers is here To keep me happy safe They are now like family That I know and love!!

YOUNG CARERS WHO WE ARE

Young Carers

Young carers is a group to give young carers some freedom. Also to have fun.

Our lives can be challenging but at young carers you can relax and be stress free.

U canf or getaboutwhat ’ sgoi ngonathomeor school at the youngcar er ’ scent r e.

No one will be left out at young carers. Gillian is one of the staff you can always talk to her. Caring is hard work and sometimes you need to have a rest so go to the young carers.

And never can you get bored at the young carers centre.

Really hard work to do at the young carers centre. Everyone always are included. Round and round remembering what jobs to do around the house.

Someone will always be there for you and giving you support. By Chloe Payne

Young and Truthful Original people Understanding Nice Giggaly Caring Angel Respectful Entellignet Reliable Sensible

LIFE HOW WE FEEL

Gothic Poem on Life Tears of blood drop on my immortal heart My once fragile world ripped apart The razor thorns of a stem so tall That cold lie that said it all Falling petals from the withering rose The blood red one, that I chose The angel cries tears of stone, I still wonder why I am alone. Gothic souled with a forsaken heart And still everything is falling apart The mask is torn, now where to hide? I thought I got rid of this emotional side. I fyou don’ tfeelwhole, you can’ tbefree, Whywon’ tmyLycan s oulreturn to me? Theangel’ stearsofs toneturn cold Hold on, life gets betterors oI ’ m told! ! ! By Gothic Willow (Saz)

Hatred LOVE IS A POWERFUL FORCE BUT HATRED IS STRONGER IT CONSUMES YOU LIKE A CANCER AND GROWS JUST THE SAME PEOPLE LIVE TO LOVE I LOVE TO HATE IFTHERE’ SONE THING THAT LINKS LOVE AND HATE IT’ STHEBURNING YOU FEEL WITHIN JUST WAITING TO ERUPT AND WHEN IT DOES THERE’ SNO STOPPING IT

LIFE HOW WE FEEL

Yourl i f eo rt he i r ’ s I t ’ smyl i f egonal i vei tt ot hema x Got no time any time to relax F i ndoutmyownwa ynobodye l s e ’ swa y Gona find out for myself Myi nde pe nde nc ei sa l lI ’ vegot Li vi ngmyl i f ea ss ome oneI ’ m not Stop look and listen forget your position Think about it just try and envision Your life all around you in one split second Transparent just look straight through it Look at the people the people you know Time to go now and start this show. Benjamin Brown

Scared Have you ever been scared of what you might do Thinking it over, through and through I ’ mr eal l yscar edofwhatIcoul ddo Sobewar eIdon’ twantt ohur tyou Butpl easedon’ tbescar edbet weenmeandyou Just treat me how you want me to treat you.

LIFE HOW WE FEEL

Defiance T h i si swh a twe ’ r et o l d As we whinge and whine Too turn back the time Wi s h i n gwed i d n ’ t Commit the crime Time keeps turning Y o uc a n ’ ts t a r tl e a r n i n g N o tkn o wi n gwh a ty o u ’ r ed o i n g T h e r e ’ sn ot u r n ing back now Y o uj u s two n ’ tl a s t Detention I ’ mt r apped Helpless No escape Just sat Silence Waiting Going insane Please help Get me out Lost the plot Can’ tgoon No way out Guards all around Passing back and forth Eyes not on me Forget this Got to leave No chance Not stopping me now Bye bye Too late to see

LIFE HOW WE FEEL

Anger Anger is the colour of blood Anger taste of hot spices Anger smells of a damp subway Anger looks like my brother having a temper tantrum Anger sounds like someone stomping up the stairs Anger feels like your heart is going to burst. By Ashley Quarterman

The waterfall of tears ran down her cheeks. The plump redness of sore eyes made her look meek. The dark hollow of pain consumed her heart. The shock of reality piercing her like a dart. The slightly parted lips not revealing her voice. The dryness of her throat not leaving her much choice, The paleness of her skin making her like a ghost. The balanced fear in the cheeks Herknowi ngt hatnow s hecoul dn’ t boast. The reflection of that mirror Told all truthfully There could be no more lies That person was me Shani

LIFE HOW WE FEEL

Life Some people say that life is a bitch and then you die. Sot her e’ snopoi nti nat t empt i ngt ot r y. Then there are people that say life is great. Anddon’ tbel i evet hechanceofi tbei ngt ool at e. Then some say life is what you make it. But would people really choose to make their life shit? Do our choices make us what we can? Or is everyone set to live out a plan? Is there really a reason for everything? And is it to learn from our mistakes again and again? If every choice we make decides our future, T henwhywhenwemakeachoi cedon’ twes eet hebi gpi ct ur e? If someone was having a great life and suddenly chose to die, Was it their own choice, or was that how their path was suppose to lie? Are we really going to hit a dead end? Or will we keep living again and again? Does every choice lead to a fork in the road? Or does it have no splits and just shift into a different mode? If we were able to turn back time, Would changing the past really make everything fine? If we could erase every bad memory we have endured Would it just happen later to make us learn for sure? Do the bad memories really makes us learn? Do they help us survive, or make us yearn? Do we have all the answers to our questions? Or is the answers we have just suggestions? Life can feel confusing and fake, And sometimes you feel just like taking a break. Somet i mespeopl ef eelt heycan’ tgoon, But everyone should know they have the power to stay strong. Life will always have its ups and downs Ands omet i mesyoucangets ol os tyouf eelyou’ l l neverbef ound. But people who hide away will never see, You have to live life, learn from it and endure it to ever get to feel FREE!! By Sara Thomson

LIFE HOW WE FEEL

Don’ tKnow Why? Why, why, why do I always want whatIcan’ thaveIt r ys ohar dbut t hat ’ snotenough,ever ydayIt r yand move on some how your still there in myheadandwhyIdon’ tknow. It hi nkofyoual otdon’ tknow whyIt r y nott oIdon’ twantt obuti t ’ s hard when I know you feel the same I know because you told other people don’ tk now why. Why not me you should tell me after all youdon’ tknow whatcanhappenIknow a boy once that done the same his moved I bet he regrets it now. Goodbye you all gotta go but just think go with the flow or you might neverknow whyIdon’ tknow l ett hat that special someone know and in the end you will both know 2 all my readers luv you all remember share that love around xxx

I t ’ shar dt okeepmyt emperwhen you’ r emaki ngt hi ngsi nt hemake-it den you’ r est r uggl i ngsoyou ask for help she ignores you, help someone else until you want to get a knife and kill! You shout and scream, jump up and down End up looking like a clown. Butshewon’ thel pyou,t houghyou’ r e next in the queue. The person behind you is more interesting. So you fiddle with what you are making unt i lyouf i ndi t ’ sbr eaki ng so you throw it down and storm off and away swearing never to come back on any day. By Annie

LIFE HOW WE FEEL

The Battle The King was fighting a battle, Over the dusty dunes His eyes were hollows of madness He looked down at his bracelet and runes His warriors were falling rapidly Down the slippery sandy banks But he fought with the force of a lion Through the enemies well armed ranks He killed a lot of his enemy And knocked some down from the legs They cracked some splendid spears ‘ Wear ewi nni ngt hebat t l e’hes ai d ‘ Weneedr ei nf or cement s ’t hear mybegant os hout A berserk soldier ran wildly And gave them each a clout After a lot of stabbing The king got cut around the thigh But he hardly made a fuss Hedi dn’ tl etof fonecr y So he staggered away down the warpath To tend to his bloody wound The task was not easy Because of the blistering noon. Then the two enemy kings Came up, face to face To fight the ultimate battle Of the human race They hit each other with swords And whipped each other around the head With one more blow each They both fell dead!

FRIENDS WHO WE NEED

Friends to the end We’ r ef r i endst ot heend Mes s ageI ’ mt r yi ngt os end We’ r ef r i endst ot heend, Fights happen when your friends We’ r ef r i endst ot heend Don’ tl ett hef r i ends hi pend We’ r ef r i endst ot heend Give time to let it mend We’ r ef r i endst ot heend Don’ tchangeol df ornew f r i ends We’ r ef r i endst ot heend Just try and extend We’ r ef r i endst ot heend Bend over backwards for a friend We’ r ef r i endst ot heend True friendships never end

Refugee Hecan’ ts peakawor dofEngl i s h But the picture he paints needs no words In it he puts: Guns Bright orange explosions A house with no roof Children with no shoes And his mother and father Lying still as though asleep. At the bottom he puts himself, tiny and dark, With a puddle of blue tears at his feet. Somehow the fat yellow sun at the top of the page has a smile on its face. By Samantha Hawkins

Good Happy Kind Sunny Nike Colourful Cool We play on his bike He lets me play in his back garden.

FRIENDS WHO WE NEED

My Friend My friends name is Sam He is a boy We play on bikes I play with him every weekend He means so much to me because we Never argue. By Scott

Poem The boy nick my books, Then chuck them on the floor! As I walk down the corridor He thumping me. My arms are all bruised, And so is my knee! All the nasty things he says, And the way he bullies me! They all get me into trouble, ButIknow Idi dn’ tdoi t , But what will become of me! I am so unhappy My Mum think I am ill, ButIr eal l ydon’ twantt ogot os chool Because of him! My friend says I must report him Else things will stay the same, I tell my teacher Whos aysI ’ l l s t ophi sgame! At last things are better, He has left the school, I should not have kept this quiet, I know I am a fool! And now I even enjoy my lessons Anddon’ tf eeli l l nomor e, I ’ m gl adt hati ti sal l over ! Anonymous

FRIENDS WHO WE NEED

Friends The path feels so near, But the road is so unclear Everything is confusing And nothing seems amusing What you thought was real I s n’ thow youf eel . You need to take it step-by-step But even then you feel at your depth, You have to keep following the tract Everything seems to be slipping away And you feel like giving up everyday But you decide to hold on, And you just seem to hop a long But then everything breaks down And you start to wear a frown You feel like giving up, Cosyou’ veputupwi t ht oomuch But then a friend knocks on your door And you feel like holding on once more. Your friends are the difference between life and death And they give you air on your last breath A true friend is someone you can open up to And when you feel down they know what to do A true friend is always there when you need them And help you through the bad again and again But you need to be there for them too, Andt hebadt i mesyou’ l l hel pt hem t hr ough So always make sure you have a shoulder to cry on F oral l t hos et i mesyouj us tcan’ thol don! By Sara Thomson

NATURE FOR WHAT WE SEE

Thoughts of a Young Carer Living in Thanet I lie awake in the middle of the night, Wondering if I will ever see the light, But as the golden sun rises in the sky, And as the darkness starts to die, All the worryfull tears fill my eye, I wonder if I will ever know why. I t ’ sl i keas af ewi t habr okenkey, And inside there is me, And there I sit all alone, Thinking will I ever be known, There is a star in this safe of mine, Will it ever have the chance to shine. As the sky fades into light blue, And as the people who never knew, Start rising from their beds, It all starts to clear in my head, I have to help this star shine, The responsibility is all mine. Andt hat ’ swhatIdoal l day, And guess what, I find a way, The lock of the safe finally breaks, And my star finally awakes Then out into the world we go, And this bright light is mine to show.

Should have listened Have you ever sat and listened By the river as the water glisten With the moon out high Way up in the sky Have you ever sat and listened By the sea sat under a tree With the sun out high Way up in the sky Have you ever sat and listened Buti t ’ st ool at ewi t hyourmat e Telling them lies As they start to cry

NATURE FOR WHAT WE SEE

A Star Young Carers might be what we are ButIt hi nkwe’ r emor el i k eas t ar We light the dark and twinkle brightly Being happy and being sprightly Then in the day we disappear Being seen is what we fear Acting normal, Coping well Hi di ngal l ,pl eas edon’ tt el l My mum and me we are the best She does her bit I do the rest We live our life and we get by It can be tough we sometimes cry I t ’ snotal waysf ai rbutwe’ l l al waysbet her e Children that share and children that care At t heendoft hedayi t ’ l l beni ght We’ l l comeoutagai nandwewi l l s hi nebr i ght YESas t art hat ’ swhatwear e Window In the kitchen waiting For the kettle to boil You gaze upon the garden In the morning haze. You see your reflection Staring back at you. As you stare at The morning dew As the kettle boils The steam mists the window And you watch yourself Slowly disappear. By Gemma Southampton Young Carers Project

NATURE FOR WHAT WE SEE

Wilderness There is a monkey in me Jumping around up for a challenge Climbing around There is a puppy in me Cute and harmless wanting a Hug, being caring. By Gemma Aged 13

Rainbow, rainbow in the sky Just how far or just how high At the end of your colours Could there be a pot of gold Waiting for me?! L i f ei s n’ twhatyouwi s hf or I t ’ swhatyouGET So be grateful for it Don’ tt akei tf orgr ant ed.

Why fly I wish I could fly Just fly right by To watch passers by From way up high Woul dn’ ti tbegr eat If you could fly Right up in the sky Why oh why Can’ twefly People die to fly Butal aswewer en’ t meant to fly Way up high Up in the sky Butpl eas edon’ t Try and fly You might die And people will cry

M U M S, D A D S, B R O T H E R S, S I S T E R S FOR WHOM WE CARE

A Tiger, A Tiger Hey mummy would you get me a tiger T hey’ r ebi gcut eandcuddl yandt heydon’ tdr i nkci der , T hey’ r eyourf avour i t ecolours orange and black, I ft her e’ snor oom i nt hehous e,I ’ l l keepi toutback. At i gerIt houghtt hat ’ swhatyous ai d, I t ’ l lmes supt hehous eandmes supt hebed Andwho’ l ll ookaf t eri twheni teat susal lup I ’ mt el l i ngyou,you’ r ebet t erof fwi t hapup. But mummy they are giving them away at the zoo And when it needs the toilet it can go to the loo I fanyr obber sbr eaki ni t ’ l l s car et hem away So mummy what do you say. I ’ l lt el lyouwhatIsay Youcanf os t erbuther ei tcan’ ts t ay Whydon’ tIphoneup the pet shop and ask them for a cat Cosi tcans t ayher eandyoucanf eedi tt i l li t ’ sf at But mummy I draw tigers all the time I just wish it could be mine I t ’ l l keepyoucompanywhenIgot os chool And maybe I could teach it how to play pool Teach it how to play pool are you mad Now you’ r et r yi ngt ober eal l ybad Now go to your room and watch TV And will you please stop nagging me. So Mum is that a yes or no Please Mum I really need to know Ast hey’ r egoi ngawayr eal l yf as t AndIdon’ twantt ogett here last. Ok Ok the answer is yes! You better hurry up and get dressed And you better promise to behave from now on Or that tiger will soon be gone OkIpr omi s eIpr omi s eI ’ l l behave And even promise to bathe SoI ’ mr eal l yal l owedat i ger Oh mummy, a tiger, a tiger. By Sara Theresa Thomson

M U M S, D A D S, B R O T H E R S, S I S T E R S FOR WHOM WE CARE

Myf r i endsdon’ tknow whatIam At home, I look after my Mam I help with the washing and the cooking too MyMum s ays“L ovei t ’ sj us tmeandyou” I like to help. It makes me proud. I also play –but not too loud. We go out shopping, for the food My Mum gets tired and in a mood I give her a hug to show I care I sometimes think is this all fair. A young carer is what I am. Kerry Burns and Tash Braithwaite

The Unknown My mother got sick when I was 8 but the doctors could not see. That her smiles turned to tears but never in front of me. I would hear her weep through my bedroom wall but never in front of me. I wanted her pain to go away to see her laugh merrily. Could it be possible for her pain to disappear then we could laugh merrily. But I know that is just a dream as she continues to cry, but never in front of me. Looking back, now I am 12 and what do I See,t hat ’ seas y.Mam cr yi ngbutneveri n front of me. Then Crossroads cam to me what did Is ee? T hat ’ seas y,chi l dr enj us tl i keme. Gavin Howard

M U M S, D A D S, B R O T H E R S, S I S T E R S FOR WHOM WE CARE

I can remember the day the hospital phoned, I was scared, nervous and excited. My life would be t ur nedar ound,butIknew i twas n’ tgoi ngt obeeas y. Mybr ot herandIgott akenawayt omyDad’ shous eand wehadabi tofacr y.I twas n’ tunt i lt hephone rang again, we knew what was really going on. They hadanew l i ver ,amat cht omyMam’ s .Hervoi ceon the phone made me feel a bit sad, but I knew she would be better soon. Her voice, she was excited, but also sounded quite frail. The operation took twelve hours and that night I found it hard to sleep. I woke up early wondering if everything had gone to plan. I was allowed to visit her, the smile on her face, I had never seen her so happy. A new mother I thought but there was still a lot more to be done. She is a lot better now, and back to work. The progress she has made is excellent. The one year anniversary has past, but problems still arrive. There is light at the end of the tunnel and I am very lucky for mine! Being a carer is hard because I have to help loads and it is a lot to handle. My brother gets scared when he bleeds so I try to keep him calm by drawing with him or getting his toys and action figures or telling him he is a special person. He likes it when I go to Crossroads because I always buy him something. I like caring for him but not just him everyone! I t ’ smademes eet hatt her ear eot her s out there just like me. Feeling what I feel and probably worrying about the same things. Hospital appointments, bleeds, lumps, bump. AtCr os s r oadsi t ’ saboutcomi ngt oget her . Sharing that special bond. CARING. Something that will stay with your forever. Natasha Taylor-Price

M U M S, D A D S, B R O T H E R S, S I S T E R S FOR WHOM WE CARE

Words that remind me of my mum Calm Nice Happy Gold and red hair Nice hands Lives in a big house Good hair Colourful She looks like me Sunny Nice smile Love Relax Friendship Good By Laiah

My Auntie Lynn and My Cousin I t ’ sf araway You have to go on an aeroplane My Little Cousin Makes me happy. Sadt hatIcan’ ts eeherbecaus e T hey’ r es of araway. By Rebecca

Cheerful Calm Kind Games Happy Lonely Upset Sad It makes me happy seeing them Aeroplane. Washington DC America Baby Smile Colourful Shops Lots of shops Never met baby cousin

M U M S, D A D S, B R O T H E R S, S I S T E R S FOR WHOM WE CARE

My Brother, Will Give it to Will, I hear them say You can have it another day Oh what the hell He’ snotwel l Show it to Will, I hear them say You can see it another day Oh what the hell He’ snotwel l Watch it Will, I hear them Say You can play another day Oh what the hell He’ snotwel l Crossroads Will, I hear them say T as ha’ sgoi ngt hi sver yday Oh what the hell He’ snotwel l Natasha Taylor Price My Sister I feel different from all my friends because of my sister. People always seem to stare when I go out with her. This makes me upset and angry because t heydon’ ts eeherasanor mal gi r l . Somet i mesIcan’ tdot het hi ngsIwantt o DO. I really get worried when she goes into hospital. This will be happening soon but it will be goodwhens hecomesout ,becaus es hewon’ t be in so much pain, which means she will be happy. Siobhan Foy

M U M S, D A D S, B R O T H E R S, S I S T E R S FOR WHOM WE CARE

My Brother I get upset when kids outside pick on him and sometimes he plays his music too loud so I can not get my homework done and sometimes he gets mad when he can not find his games because he shouts at me. When he wants something to eat I need to help him to turn the oven on and the grill, microwave and read the numbers and help him with his dishes too. People look at him sometimes. I help him when he can not do things and he plays with the 2 dogs. Sometimes he needs help with the dog food tins and can not cut things like paper and with this temper and he stays in his bedroom when he comes in from school he goes straight upstairs for the rest of the day. Jessica Sales

I feel sad as I look at my sister as she slowly goes I ’ mr eal l ygoi ngt omi s sher . She really means the world to me, where nothing else could really be. As she lies asleep, inside a dark down heap. As I look at her, with a twinkle in my eye, Is ay,” Pl eas edon’ tgo,becaus eI ’ l l cr y” Sodon’ tl eavemeonmyown, Asyou’ r et heonewhobr i ngsme home. Young Carer

M U M S, D A D S, B R O T H E R S, S I S T E R S FOR WHOM WE CARE

I feel sad about being a young carer. I feel happy when my Mam plays with me. I help my Mam by doing the washing up. Going messages for her, and by making cups of tea and coffee for her. I worry about my Mam sometimes. I get angry sometimes because I do Lots of things for my Mam, things like Going to the shop for her. Lauren Duggan

Me and My Sister My s i s t ers he’ ski nd And she smiles Ands he’ sf un She has a big bedroom On a sunny day it makes me happy She is good I love her so much And she loves me. By Hanna

Fun Happy Good Sunny Relax Makes me happy Small Colourful Love Nice Sunny Big bedroom Kind

M U M S, D A D S, B R O T H E R S, S I S T E R S FOR WHOM WE CARE

Brother I sit there crying why me. But then I look at my brother and think, is his life better or worse? Idon’ tknow hes i t st her eonhi s own world not taking a care, not moving, nothing. I ask hi m “Whathewant sf ort ea?” he looks straight past me. If eel l i kes hout i ngathi m “s peakt o me,ans werme! ” ButIdon’ t ,Ibi t emyl i pandgot o my room or go out. Ican’ tt el l myMum s hehasenoughonher pl at eors heget sdepr es s edIcan’ tt el l dad because he walked out years ago! SoIgoi nt omybr ot her ’ sr oom andt al k t ohi m hedoes n’ ts ayanyt hi ng,doanyt hi ng, not a blink so I give up! Igetdepr es s edal ot ,dos t uf fIs houl dn’ t . But when it gets to Wednesday evening I escape become me let go of my responsibilities for 2 hours and bit, talk to people. T hi si sal l t hankst oyoungcar er sIdon’ t ’know whatwoul dofhappened without them. Love you brother. My Mum Anonymous North Somerset Crossroads

My best friend Our love will never end She is there with me through thick and thin If I had to choose the best person ever she would win She’ ss eent he good times and the bad She’ ss eenmehappyandwhenI ’ ms ad She heard my first word Andevers i ncet hens he’ shear d Hear dt het hi ngsI ’ vehadt os ay And pointed me in the right way SowhenI ’ m ups etIk now wher et ogo Whatever life may throw She’ sl i keabat who hits the ball She’ smyemot i onal wal l Yeah,s he’ smyMum My Mum is a gift to last forever I hope we will always be together

M U M S, D A D S, B R O T H E R S, S I S T E R S FOR WHOM WE CARE

Sometimes things happen, it makes me sad. I am sad when my Mam is sad. My Mam has been in hospital. She’ sbeenver yi l l . It was very upsetting. Icoul dn’ tconcent r at eonmys chool wor k. I cried and cried, but I told my best friend. She said she was very sorry for what had happened. My Dad was very tired so I made a Sunday dinner for the family. I came home from school and my Mam was there. I was very happy she was better. Sam Smyth

Relax Calm Cheerful Happy Good hair Tree The sun Birds nest They have a nice smile Holding hands My Mum and Brother They both have a nice smile This picture makes me relax Also it makes me cheerful Its happy and cuddley The picture makes me calm The picture is a picture of my mum and my brother I like it because its like nature to me. They have a sense of humour. This picture is of a tree, a boy, a lady, birds And the sun. By Kirsty

Some of the issues raised by young carers at the 2005 festival, under the theme Taking Care of Ourselves: mind, body and spirit included:   Having someone to talk to who understands is very important –we need more funding for the young carers projects that support us.   We want society in general to have more understanding of our families andt heper s onwhoi sdi s abl edori l l .Peopl e’ sat t i t udescanl eaveus conf us edandf eel i ngl onel y.I t ’ snott heper s onont heout s i det hat count s ;i t ’ st heper s onont hei ns i de.   Schools really need to know more about young carers and the find of support we need.

Charity Reg. No 2221124

Copyright TCS 2006

T heChi l dr en’ sSoci et yYoungCar er sI ni t i at i veandYMCAF ai r t hor neManor jointly organise the annual National Young Carers Festival. Over the last 6 years, a total of almost 7 500 Young Carers from all over the UK have attended the festival –the largest annual youth participation event.