Providing a listening ear for carers
When we think of the traditional relationship between a parent and child, we would tend to think of parents looking after their children.
But for many people in Sunderland, that relationship changes beyond measure, when a child cares for their parent, or the child has special needs or a disability that means the adult becomes more than just a parent.
The Sunderland Echo learns more about a lifeline Sunderland service, that provides a listening ear, support and advice to carers from across the city.
Twelve-year-old Dru Williamson is a carer for her mother, who lives with anxiety and depression.
Dru is one of the 30,000 carers thought to be looking after a loved one in Sunderland, and despite being just a child herself, she takes a major role in the care of her two brothers, who her mother can struggle to look after.
“On a daily basis, I help my mam get my brothers ready for school and if they’re acting themselves, I will have to say to them ‘come on, you’re getting mam stressed’ and make sure they get ready on time.
“I help my mam around the house too,” says Dru, who goes to St Roberts School.
“Sometimes I feel different and it does put a little bit of pressure on me, knowing that other people my age have a stress-free morning, while I have to do things that most people don’t need to worry about.”
Dru is one of more than 8,000 carers who visits Sunderland Carers’ Centre, which provides support and guidance for carers of all ages – whether a young carer looking after a parent or sibling, or a parent-carer looking after their child.
The centre has a “whole family approach”, with the aim of ensuring no carer feels alone or unsupported.
Young carers take part in activities, and the centre works with organisations across the North East, including Sunderland College and the North East Raising Aspirations Partnership which encourages young adults to go to university, as well as schools across Sunderland to put together Education and Health Care (EHC) plans to support young carers who may face different challenges to their peers at school.
Older groups access a range of support – from guidance on what benefits and support they may be entitled to, to practical advice about caring for their loved one.
Graham Burt, chief executive of Sunderland Carers’ Centre, said: “We understand the impact that being a carer has on the lives of the people we work with – and that can be huge.
“It’s not always giving meds to a family member, it can be simpler things like having a sibling who can’t go to the park.
“For our young carers, we give them opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have – one of our young carers is going to be an ambassador at next year’s Tall Ships event.
“We want to raise their aspirations and show them what they are capable of.
“For older people, it’s really about making sure they have all of the help and guidance they need to carry on with their own life while supporting their dependent.
“Carers’ priorities are often those of the person they care for and they forget to look after themselves.
“Our work is vital to remind carers that they too are individuals and need help, support and space like everyone else.”