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| 'Caring for mum is a constant worry', says Eastbourne teenager | 'Caring for mum is a constant worry', says Eastbourne teenager |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Oliver, 15, is protesting from home in Eastbourne via screens outside Parliament to call for more support for unpaid carers like him | |
| A teenager from East Sussex is joining a virtual protest at Parliament from home via video screens on Tuesday because his caring duties mean he cannot travel to London. | A teenager from East Sussex is joining a virtual protest at Parliament from home via video screens on Tuesday because his caring duties mean he cannot travel to London. |
| Oliver, 15, from Eastbourne, is joining unpaid carers from around the country who say planning a holiday at this time of year feels "like a pipe dream" because of a lack of respite support. | Oliver, 15, from Eastbourne, is joining unpaid carers from around the country who say planning a holiday at this time of year feels "like a pipe dream" because of a lack of respite support. |
| A new study by the Carers Trust shows almost one in three unpaid carers rarely take a respite break with a lack of downtime leaving 60% reporting feelings of burnout. | A new study by the Carers Trust shows almost one in three unpaid carers rarely take a respite break with a lack of downtime leaving 60% reporting feelings of burnout. |
| The Department of Health and Social Care said it was giving billions of extra funding for unpaid carers and an independent commission had been launched to bring wider reforms. | The Department of Health and Social Care said it was giving billions of extra funding for unpaid carers and an independent commission had been launched to bring wider reforms. |
| Oliver, who has been caring for his mum Wendy since he was eight, only realised he could get recognition when someone told him support was available | Oliver, who has been caring for his mum Wendy since he was eight, only realised he could get recognition when someone told him support was available |
| Oliver became a carer when he was eight years old after his mum Wendy collapsed unexpectedly at home, leading to open heart surgery and a mechanical heart being fitted. | Oliver became a carer when he was eight years old after his mum Wendy collapsed unexpectedly at home, leading to open heart surgery and a mechanical heart being fitted. |
| Four years later a stroke led to Wendy losing some mobility in her right hand side. | Four years later a stroke led to Wendy losing some mobility in her right hand side. |
| Oliver said he had always been happy to look after his mum, but he did not realise he was a young carer for several years until someone told him that support and recognition was available. | Oliver said he had always been happy to look after his mum, but he did not realise he was a young carer for several years until someone told him that support and recognition was available. |
| "It makes a huge difference," he said. | "It makes a huge difference," he said. |
| "Having someone to talk to, who understands what you're going through and has an idea of what you need is really helpful." | "Having someone to talk to, who understands what you're going through and has an idea of what you need is really helpful." |
| He said help could be counselling, other carers to talk to or "activities or trips which take you outside of your normal life". | He said help could be counselling, other carers to talk to or "activities or trips which take you outside of your normal life". |
| "It can feel constant, like it's your whole life caring sometimes," he added. | "It can feel constant, like it's your whole life caring sometimes," he added. |
| "In the mornings you care, when you get home from school, you care. Having those breaks is key to living rather than just caring." | "In the mornings you care, when you get home from school, you care. Having those breaks is key to living rather than just caring." |
| Oliver said that caring didn't mean just doing the dishes, washing clothes and hoovering, as there was a "huge mental side effect as well, where you're constantly worrying about the person you care for". | Oliver said that caring didn't mean just doing the dishes, washing clothes and hoovering, as there was a "huge mental side effect as well, where you're constantly worrying about the person you care for". |
| "It's a feeling that drags you down sometimes, that you need to be there for that person all the time," he said. "Having support really does lift that weight off you." | "It's a feeling that drags you down sometimes, that you need to be there for that person all the time," he said. "Having support really does lift that weight off you." |
| 'Huge responsibility' | 'Huge responsibility' |
| His mum Wendy said Oliver was a very caring person who never complained, but she was grateful he could be supported to have some days out without her where he could "just be a kid". | His mum Wendy said Oliver was a very caring person who never complained, but she was grateful he could be supported to have some days out without her where he could "just be a kid". |
| She added: "It's such a huge responsibility, I couldn't imagine at his age doing what he does. I'm so proud of him." | She added: "It's such a huge responsibility, I couldn't imagine at his age doing what he does. I'm so proud of him." |
| Kirsty McHugh, CEO of Carers Trust, said it was "incredibly disappointing" that the UK Government still hadn't given unpaid carers a right to respite and that it "seemed to have forgotten unpaid carers" as it works to strengthen employment rights. | Kirsty McHugh, CEO of Carers Trust, said it was "incredibly disappointing" that the UK Government still hadn't given unpaid carers a right to respite and that it "seemed to have forgotten unpaid carers" as it works to strengthen employment rights. |
| She said: "For decades, successive governments have depended on unpaid carers to provide social care on the cheap, which has delayed the need to come up with long-term funding and support." | She said: "For decades, successive governments have depended on unpaid carers to provide social care on the cheap, which has delayed the need to come up with long-term funding and support." |
| In a statement, the Department of Health and Social Care said: "We value the immense contribution of all unpaid carers. To help social care authorities support carers we are providing a funding boost of up to £3.7 billion this year – which includes help for unpaid carers. | In a statement, the Department of Health and Social Care said: "We value the immense contribution of all unpaid carers. To help social care authorities support carers we are providing a funding boost of up to £3.7 billion this year – which includes help for unpaid carers. |
| "We have also increased the Carer's Allowance earnings threshold by around an extra £2,000 a year – the biggest rise since it was introduced in 1976 - and are reviewing carer's leave to see whether further help is needed. | "We have also increased the Carer's Allowance earnings threshold by around an extra £2,000 a year – the biggest rise since it was introduced in 1976 - and are reviewing carer's leave to see whether further help is needed. |
| "As part of wider reforms, Baroness Louise Casey has begun her work on the Independent Commission into Social Care, which will include exploring the needs of unpaid carers." | "As part of wider reforms, Baroness Louise Casey has begun her work on the Independent Commission into Social Care, which will include exploring the needs of unpaid carers." |
| Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. | Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. |