An Isle of Wight young carer joined the King, Queen, and Prime Minister at a special reception at Windsor Castle recently to highlight the work of paid and unpaid carers across the UK.
Elliott Vince, 17, from Newport, who cares for his mum, was invited to represent Barnardo’s Isle of Wight Young Carers service at the event last month, alongside Jodie Woodhouse, a project worker for the children’s charity service.
Vince: I feel really privileged and honoured
Elliott and Jodie chatted with both King Charles and Queen Camilla, as well as Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Elliott said,
“I feel really privileged and honoured to have attended such a big event representing the Barnardo’s Isle of Wight Young Carers. I was definitely nervous when I first arrived at Windsor Castle; it felt so surreal and it was strange being so formal and seeing so many important people in one place.
“I had the chance to talk with Keir Starmer, who asked me the one thing I’d like him to fix. I thought for a second and explained that the long waiting lists for mental health services really need sorting. He agreed and said that it shouldn’t get to a point where it’s too late to get help.”
He continued,
“I felt very honoured that the King wanted to hear about me and why I was there. I explained who I cared for, and he told me he is very proud of the hard I work I’m doing. It was really inspiring to have my voice heard and to be recognised in that way.”
Spoke in Parliament
Last summer, Elliott spoke at Barnardo’s annual reception in Parliament to highlight the impact that Barnardo’s Isle of Wight Young Carers service and local Family Hub have on his life.
He said,
“During darker times, I felt lost, and that I didn’t have a safe place to talk about what I was going through. I didn’t go out and have fun and just be a child.
“Barnardo’s Isle of Wight Young Carers gave me that safe place. It’s a family away from home where I’m not the one caring for other people but they’re caring for me. There is such an amazing community that’s given me the chance to discover so many things about myself and my identity. Without that community, I probably wouldn’t have felt like I could speak in front of so many people in Westminster!
“I cannot put into words how much I appreciate Barnardo’s Young Carers for what they’ve done for my family, and for getting me to such a better place.”
Barnardo’s Young Carers service
Barnardo’s Isle of Wight Young Carers service supports children and young people who help to care for a household family member, for reasons such as disability or long-term illness.
Laura Groves, children’s services manager for Barnardo’s Isle of Wight Family Centres, said,
“Young carers can often be hidden from many support services, so we were delighted that Elliott had the opportunity to share his own experiences of being a young carer with the King, Queen and Prime Minister, and highlight the importance of providing support to the children and young people who need it most.
“The Barnardo’s Isle of Wight Young Carers service gives crucial support to children who provide essential care for a member of their family. Without this, we know that young carers can struggle or find it difficult to cope with the demands of their responsibilities. Being a young carer can affect a child’s education and health, so providing targeted or one-to-one support for those that need it, along with a chance to meet other young people in a similar position, or taking part in fun activities, can make the world of difference.
“We’re incredibly grateful that we receive amazing help and donations from many organisations across the Isle of Wight, like the Rotary Club, Sandown Lions, and WI, as well as others such as Heroes comic book shop, who donated the proceeds of their Heroes Con 5 event last month to Barnardo’s Isle of Wight Young Carers. Without these generous donations we simply wouldn’t be able to offer the same level of support and activities to our young carers.”
Advice and more information about Barnardo’s Isle of Wight Family Centres and Young Carers service is available on the website.
News shared by Caroline on behalf of Bardardo’s. Ed
