More support for young carers needed in the North East
This week is Carers Week 2016, highlighting the daily challenges faced by carers in our region.
More needs to be done to raise awareness of young carers in our region, that's what we're hearing from a Stockton teenager this morning.
15-year-old Bailey cares full time for both his parents, grandma and sometimes his great grandma as well.
Bailey has spoken out as today marks the beginning of Carers Week 2016. The goal of the week is to raise awareness of the challenges carers are up against day in day out while highlighting the various support networks on offer to carers in the North East.
Bailey, who receives support from the Eastern Ravens Trust on Teeside, says he struggles to find a balance between being a full-time carer, doing his school work and having a social life:
“It’s really difficult, I’ve had to give up one of my lessons because I was staying up until 2:30 am doing homework on top of my caring role. I do try to get out as much as I can but that’s not always possible. We’ve got out home life, our school life and our social life to balance. When you’ve got more responsibility than most teenagers in your home life, it weighs everything else down”