Author of this article: Andy McGowan
In the first week of Easter my young carers group, Centre 33, hosted the Hidden exhibition in Cambridgeshire. Hidden is the name of the exhibition which shows lots of pictures of different young carers with a small description of what they feel being a young carer is like and about. In the exhibition there are around about 21 different large photographs.
The photographer who took all of these amazing photos was a young carer and then got into photography. In the exhibition there are lots of children but also a few famous celebrities who you probably would have no idea about. One of these people is Richard McCourt more commonly known as the actor and presenter Dick from Dick and Dom. On his plaque with his photograph it reads ‘young carers need support and to try and continue living their own lives’. This is a really powerful thing to say and is very much true. Some young carers become so accustomed to caring for their family members that they end up putting everyone else first. With more support I think young carers will be able to go and live separate lives from their caring responsibilities. Another famous woman in the exhibition is radio and presenter Jo Whiley. On her plaque it reads ‘it’s normal to love the person you care for, but also feel cross with them’. I cannot begin to say how true this is. Many young carers feel ashamed of themselves when they lose their temper with the person they care for but they shouldn’t feel bad about it. They have to cope with so much stress and just with a little bit of support many young carers will be able to feel not so alone.
