Keeping Mum!

Carers Trust has been working closely with Radio 1 on its recent documentary, Keeping Mum, which looked at the issues that Young Adult Carers can face. A number of the young adult carers that took part in the programme receive support from Carers Trust’s Network Partners.

The show also features 18 year old Pippa Haines, who  describes winning her 2011 Radio 1 ‘Teen Hero’ award as one of the highlights of her life. She says she was overwhelmed by cheering crowds at Wembley and was stopped for her autograph on the way back to her hotel.

Since then though she has returned to caring for her disabled mum, her sister with mental health problems and her autistic nephew. She also works several jobs to help pay household bills and does her best to keep up with college work.

She is part of what one researcher into young adult carers’ lives has described as a “hidden and neglected army” and she says the pressure on her can sometimes seem too much to bear.

Greg James hands control of Radio 1 to Pippa and a group of other young adult carers from across the UK. There’s also a surprise visit to the studio from a pop superstar, who became a young carer at the age of 11.

You can listen to documentary by following this link: Keeping Mum

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