Thanks for getting me through the heartache... now I want to help you care for more youngsters
John salutes work of Carers Centre
A young man who never forgot the support he received from Renfrewshire Carers Centre has nominated the group to receive a £1,000 donation.
John Gordon cared for his mum Kristine when he was a teenager 10 years ago.
His teachers at Linwood High pushed him to get in touch with Renfrewshire Carers Centre and he started going to a support group.
Sadly, after a few months of support, his mum passed away suddenly aged 39 from complications related to Lupus.
Staff at the young carers project helped him access support from Crisis Counselling, which he credits with keeping him on track during his exams and his eventual acceptance to university in 2010.
John, 25, is now living in London and working as an aerospace engineer for GKN and through the company, donated £1,000 to the Carers Trust to support young carers in Renfrewshire.
He said: “I was in fourth year sitting my Standard Grades at the time, as well as caring for my mum.
“Teachers realised I was coming in late and was falling behind in my work.
“They put me in touch with the Carers Centre, who looked at my situation and said I was a young carer.
“I attended support groups with other young people and they organised additional support for me at school.
“Then my mum passed away suddenly and the Carers Centre stepped in and dealt with everything for me.
“They helped me to be able to concentrate on my exams and pushed me towards Crisis Counselling.
“I knew they were only a phone call away.
“Getting counselling helped turn everything around for me.”
John grew up in Linwood with his dad and younger brother and sister.
He went to Heriot- Watt University, in Edinburgh, to study mechanical engineering and is now settled in London.
He phoned Pauline Kelly, the young carers development worker at Renfrewshire Carers Centre, to tell her about the £1,000 donation.
Together, they agreed the donation should go to provide bereavement counselling for young carers at the centre.
John said: “It’s fantastic the money will go to this.
“I know the benefits of bereavement counselling and how important and influential it was on me.
“To be able to help others in similar situations is a great way to use the money.”
John took part in a triathlon last year — despite teaching himself how to swim just a few months earlier — and raised over £1,500 for Lupus UK.
He said he’s keen to do another event, this time to raise money for the young carers group.
Pauline Kelly said: “Young carers care for someone in their family ultimately because they love them unconditionally.
“John’s love and care for his mother has made him who he is today — someone very special.
“I am so proud the boy from Linwood did well.
“John was my first ever home visit in the job. I never forgot him. I can’t put into words how touched I am that he never forgot us.
“This £1,000 will allow us to offer Renfrewshire young carers grief, loss and bereavement support when caring comes to an end.”
Renfrewshire Carers Centre is based in Embroidery Mill, Abbeymill Business Centre.
Contact it on 0141 887 3643 or go to renfrewshirecarers.org.uk