“I get very protective of my brother, when I realise other people don’t understand him the way I do”.

These are the poignant words of Romeric Walker, one of the young carers from the Brentford Football Club Community Sports Trust Ealing Young Carers Project, as he addressed the Carers Conference in Ealing Town Hall.

The event was organised by Ealing Council and supported by the Ealing Carers Centre, to discuss and implement the new Carers Act. Romeric and his brother Eamon were amongst a group of carers who spoke both eloquently and movingly about their experiences of caring.

“Sometimes he just wakes up in a bad mood” said Romeric. "If he’s had a difficult night’s sleep, the next day is harder for him. Owing to his autism, even helping him get dressed and ready for school can be a challenge sometimes,” echoed Eamon.

“But he’s our brother so of course we want to help."

Kathryn Sobczak, Young Carers Co-ordinator at the Project, knows about the pressures the young carers feel.

“As a former Young Carer myself, I understand some of the pressures these children and Young People are under," she said. "At the Ealing Young Carers Project, we look to support them through a variety of clubs and events. "Each Young carer has different needs so it’s important we offer a variety of activities and support networks."

The Ealing Young Carers Project is run by Brentford FC Community Sports Trust and supports young carers who live in the London Borough of Ealing. Young carers are children and young people who look after someone in their family who has an illness, a disability, or is affected by mental ill-health or substance misuse.

Some young carers may undertake high levels of care, whereas for others it may be frequent low levels of care. Either can impact heavily on a child or young person.

The project aims to support all young carers with lunchtime clubs, drop-in and sports clubs, homework clubs and trips out / activities which give young carers the opportunity to have fun with their peers. Support workers also aim to provide an overarching support network for all young carers in their caring role.

For more details, please contact programme Coordinator: Kathryn Sobczak via telephone on 020 8326 7044 or email: [email protected]).