12th March 2025
Our Learning Disability Service is delighted to share news of a Young Carers Champion on Young Carers Action Day. The Young Carer Champion is a great asset who will work alongside the service, to improve support and resources for young carers whilst ensuring the perspective of young carers is represented in decision-making and service improvement.
Our new Young Carer Champion, Aisling, shares her journey in the interview below.
Can you tell us about yourself and your role as a young carer?
Hello, my name is Aisling and I am 23 years old. Along with my family I am a carer for my twin brother Callum who has autism and a learning disability.
How old were you when you started taking on caring responsibilities?
I don’t think there was ever a time when this was an instant realisation but probably at high school I started to become more aware that I had different responsibilities to my friends.
Can you share a typical day in your life?
I normally get up and get myself ready for work and meet my mum with Callum at the bus stop to take him on the bus. After I drop Callum off and pass over any messages I go to work. Sometimes I will collect Callum again or sometimes someone else in the family will do this. Callum has a schedule which is shared within the family and we all care for him together to support him to be where he needs to be and do all the things he needs to do. Callum has a very busy social life especially at different times during the year such as Christmas with all the different festive activities!
What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a young carer?
I suppose these have changed over the years but during school it was mainly around friendships and bringing friends home. A lot of my friends didn’t know I had a twin brother because he went to a different school and I worried about how they would react. Children can be very cruel and there is a lack of education and awareness generally about learning disabilities. As I have gotten older I have friends that are carers and this helps as we have the same understanding and things in common but when I was younger at times I did feel isolated. Another challenge would be that you are not always instantly available for things and you don’t have the same flexibility, your caring responsibilities may mean you need to be very strict with times to ensure medications are taken at the right times etc. You always worry about your loved one as they are more vulnerable and you want to be there to protect and support them to ensure they are safe.
What impact if any has being a young carer had on your physical and mental health?
Callum isn’t physically disabled so I haven’t felt any impact in this way. Mentally, Callum is just my brother like any of my other siblings but at times I do feel guilty for the opportunities that I have in life that he doesn’t have because of his disability. At times Callum’s repetitive behaviours can be draining and he is not always present when you’re talking to him, at times these things can be hard. However, being a young carer for Callum has provided me with opportunities and experiences I otherwise would not have had. For example, in all inclusive drama groups, numerous Mencap NI Projects, job opportunities with Mencap, working at Belfast MET, experience working as a member of the BBC Children in Need Panel, not to mention this position as a Young Carer Champion. This has also influenced my career path in working with people who are disabled and have special needs. If it wasn’t for my experience in being a young carer, I potentially would have gone down a different career path entirely. Due to my experience I feel more confident in supporting and caring roles within my place of work and beyond. Due to my opportunities, I have met so many wonderful people in caring roles like me. I have a network of friends who support me and I have opportunities to build connections within the disability community within Belfast. I have many friends who are young carers themselves. Like anything, there are pros and cons to it – I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Do you receive any support from friends, family or organisations?
I have good support from my family and friends but I have never been offered support from any organisations and I am not aware of what would be available for me.
What do you want to achieve in your role as Young Carers Champion?
I want to raise awareness of what it means to be a young carer. A lot of young people don’t realise they are carers because they see what they do as just part of their everyday life. By raising awareness, I want to help more young people recognise themselves as carers so they can access the support they deserve. I want to help increase the support and resources that are available and raise awareness of these and how they can be accessed. Alongside this I want to help build a network for young carers so they don’t feel isolated and that there are people they can talk to and reach out to who understand them. Finally, I want to make sure young carers have a voice in the learning disability service. Our experiences and perspectives are important and I want to contribute to developments that impact us and our loved ones.
The new Young Carer Champion is the start of a collaborative effort to ensure that young carers feel seen, supported and empowered to make a difference not just for themselves but within the Learning Disability Service. We all play a vital role in identifying and supporting young carers, those who take on responsibilities beyond their years to care for a loved one. Recognising these young people and encouraging them to share their experiences ensures their voices are heard, their needs are met and they receive the support they deserve. If you identify young carers who are keen to get involved please get in touch by emailing caroline.semple@belfasttrust.hscni.net.