The role of hundreds of young carers across Ceredigion who work around the clock providing care and support to a family member was recognised on Young Carers Awareness Day.

The Ceredigion Young Carers service supports around 65 young carers in Ceredigion but there are many more young people in the county who care for someone at home and go unrecognised.

Service co-ordinator Nicola Crossman said the national awareness day was a perfect opportunity to highlight the support these young people need caring for family members who may be ill or have a disability.

She added: Ceredigion Young Carers wants all young carers in the county to be identified early, receive the support they need and be recognised for the unpaid care they provide.”

Catrin Pugh-Jones, 16, from Aberystwyth has been a young carer for her mother since the age of eight.

She said: “Becoming a young carer so young had a big impact on me. I would get up at six in the morning to get my mum out of bed, help her take tablets and I have a younger brother that I had to look after as well.

“It was the same pattern up until year 10, where my brother got

older and was able to help out more so I could concentrate on GCSEs.

"I’ve been in touch with Ceredigion Young Carers since I was 12. When I first started, it was more about taking a break from caring, I was able to go out, make new friends and have a social life away from my caring role.

“Since Nicola joined, I’ve had a lot more one to one support and it’s been a great help. I don’t think I would have managed without support from Ceredigion Young Carers."

See next week’s south editions for the full story