My names Billie and I am the Young Carers Team Lead. I run our Young Carers project supporting over 110 young people and their families. We provide after school support sessions covering the whole Island.

What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day for me will consist of arranging assessments for all our families, preparing the paperwork for every file and every activity, promoting the project in the community and at schools, organising and preparing all of the activities for the evening sessions and our half term full day sessions. During the afternoons/evenings we run our fortnightly sessions, every night we have a different group from all around the island with up to 14 children (which can be a lot of driving)! I also provide one to one support for those young carers that need someone to talk to about their home lives.

What is the best part of your job?

The best part about working at Young Carers is the relationships and connections you build with the young people. Knowing that they can, and will, come to you with their problems, or their issues, or just because they’re excited to share something with you. Most importantly, the best part is all of the incredible activities and adventures I get to experience with these young carers, knowing that they wouldn’t be able to get these opportunities due to their family situations.

Do you need any qualifications or training for your job?

I have done a few degrees in Art & Design, Childcare and Education and Adult Social Care which have helped me within my role.

Some of the unique training opportunities I have done within my role are exploitation awareness, safeguarding training, understanding LGBT youth, minibus driving, first aid training and so much more.

What do you think are the most important qualities and attributes you need in your role?

Having worked with supporting children for a long time, I believe that it is about the person taking on the role. It’s not about the vast variety of degrees you can get, but whether you are the right type of person that wants to help make a difference to these young people and their lives.

For this role, you need to have an empathetic, non-judgemental and holistic view point if you want to really help make a difference. Every young person has a different background, a different upbringing, a different family dynamic and are going through some really tough times, so to provide that space and an opportunity for them to breathe (even if it’s just for a few hours) is incredibly important. My main focus when I’m working with young people is to get on their level by showing a genuine interest in what they have to say and what they are experiencing because you can’t build strong, positive relationships if you’re not both on the same page of understanding.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to get into the same career?

If you look back at your childhood and think about the adults in your life that you trusted, that you looked up to, that helped you when times were tough and you think “I want to be that person for young people today, for future generations” then maybe working with young people is for you.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time and do you have any hobbies?

I’m just a massive kid myself so when I get spare time I enjoy drawing, arts and crafts, playing with Lego, going to gigs and watching live music, learning about the world around us and the people in it and seeing my family and friends when I can.