On June 26th last year, Janna had the privilege of going to an event at Stormont as part of Barnardo’s Young Carer Champions programme. The event brought together over 40 attendees, including the Minister of Health, Mike Nesbitt, MLAs, and key stakeholders. During the event, participants shared their personal experiences as young carers, spoke about the challenges they face, and highlighted the importance of recognising young carers—many of whom do not identify themselves as such, making it difficult to fully understand how many young carers there are across Northern Ireland.
Janna spoke about the impact being a young carer can have, as well as how important it is to receive the right support. She also reflected on the positive difference that Barnardo’s has made in her own journey, and how their support has helped her and many others. The event was not only a celebration of their achievements, both individually and as part of the Young Carers Service, but also an opportunity to raise awareness and encourage greater understanding and support for young carers in our communities.
Well done again Janna.