Young carer Emma thanks charity for support during lockdown

Emma Hughes, 22, received support from Crossroads NI, funded by the Community Foundation, to help her when caring for her dad and brother.

She said: “Dad had taken unwell from a very young age, the same year I was born, so as far as I can remember, he’s had health issues. When I was at school my mum was his full time carer, but it was just normal for me. When I was eight, a case worker introduced me to Crossroads NI a support charity for young carers like me and I’m still going-I’m probably the longest attending young carer in the whole place.”

Emma found her caring skills put to the test when lockdown was announced in March.

“Like everyone else, I suddenly went from going to work and seeing friends to being in the house with my mum and Dad 24/7. I’d been caring for my dad more since October last year as my older brother (25) was diagnosed with cancer and my mum was spending time with him at the hospital. With my dad and brother both shielding, mum and I would drop shopping to my brother, we were even social distancing in the house to protect my dad and brother!”

Crossroads NI maintained its all-important contact with young carers by running Zoom nights and making regular phone calls to them, however funding of £3,500 from the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland’s Coronavirus Community Fund allowed them to offer counselling sessions to young carers.

Alison Breadon from the charity said; “Caring is challenging at the best of times, but the sense of isolation and anxiety felt by young carers from the start of lockdown was heart breaking. We were delighted to be able to offer professional counselling to those young people who were struggling.”

Emma added: “The counselling was great, it really helped and I feel like they’re always there and always very supportive.”