Ealing young carer finds support beyond home duties

By Hiyastar.co.uk

A 14-year-old in Ealing has described how she only began to understand her caring role after joining a local project built for young people who support relatives at home.

Bella helps care for her mum and grandparents. For a long time, she did not see that as something with a name. It was simply part of family life, fitted around school, friendships and her own hopes for the future.

Across the borough, Ealing Council says hundreds of young people may be doing similar work quietly at home. Some are already known to services, while others may not realise that help is available.

Bella thought caring was just normal family life

Bella said she had not understood that she was a young carer until support workers helped her recognise it.

“I didn’t realise I was a young carer – I just thought it was normal,” she said. “But it can be hard sometimes. The EYCP has helped me realise you can still have fun and be happy if you’re caring for someone.”

Her mum, Tamara, said she wants Bella to have space outside the responsibilities she takes on at home.

“Bella is amazing, and I don’t want her to miss out because she helps to care for me,” Tamara said. “This is an opportunity for her to go out, have fun and just be a young person.”

That balance is central to the Ealing Young Carers Project, known as EYCP. It supports children and teenagers aged 8 to 18 who help look after a parent, grandparent, sibling or another family member who is unwell.

School, friendships and care can overlap quickly

Young carers may help with practical tasks, emotional support, household routines or looking after younger relatives. The impact is not always visible at school or in the wider community, especially when the young person sees those duties as ordinary.

For some, caring can mean arriving at class tired, missing time with friends, worrying about someone at home or feeling unable to talk openly about family life. The pressure can build without a young person identifying themselves as a carer.

EYCP manager Kathryn Sobczak, who was once a young carer herself, said isolation is one of the biggest issues the project sees.

“Isolation is huge, which is why the project is so important,” she said.

A related report on the hidden pressure of unpaid care shows how isolation and financial strain can affect carers in other parts of the UK too.

Ealing support includes clubs, activities and one-to-one help

The Ealing Young Carers Project is commissioned by Ealing Council and run by Brentford FC Community Sports Trust. It offers one-to-one support, group sessions and after-school clubs in Northolt and Ealing.

The aim is not only to respond when a young person is struggling. It is also to give young carers a place where they can relax, meet others who understand their situation and build confidence away from their caring role.

Bella recently joined a three-day drama workshop through the project. She said she loved it and now hopes to perform on a West End stage one day, or become a drama or music teacher.

The project also runs holiday activities and gives older teenagers practical support with CVs, confidence and employment. That can matter for young people whose caring responsibilities have shaped how they think about school, work and independence.

Families can ask for help directly

Families in Ealing do not need to wait until a young carer is overwhelmed before asking for support. A child or teenager may benefit from help if they regularly support someone at home because of illness, disability, mental health needs or another long-term difficulty.

The signs can include missing social time, finding it hard to complete homework, worrying about leaving someone alone, or feeling different from classmates because of responsibilities at home.

Anyone who is a young carer, or who knows someone who may need support, can contact Kathryn Sobczak at ksobczak@brentfordfccst.com. Ealing Young Carers Project support is available for young people aged 8 to 18 across the borough.

Source: Ealing Council