Southend Young Carer wins Diana Award

Julian was nominated for this special award by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Young Carers worker Brenda Lewis after she said his story "had the wow factor".

The Diana Award was founded in 1999 by the Diana Memorial Committee to act as a lasting memorial to Princess Diana's belief in the power of young people to change the world.

Julian, 17, of Shoebury, has been caring for his Mum for the last six years. As well as looking after her he runs their home, undertaking housework, maintenance and repairs, bill payments, shopping, and many other tasks. All his activities must be carefully planned to ensure his Mum has other people available to attend to her, or everything she needs, while he is out of the house.

He attended Futures College where he became Head Boy and is currently studying at South East Essex Sixth Form College (SEEVIC).

During his time at Futures he took part in the 'Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge' which he used as an opportunity to speak about being a Young Carer and what it meant to him.

This helped lead to Julian being recommended for the award.   

Julian ran the coffee bar at the Young Carers Club in Southend Youth Centre where up to 30 Young Carers would come along to meet up and relax in each other's company.

In addition he took Relate's Peer Mentoring Course at Shoebury Youth Centre, which he then later launched at his school, to help him to assist even more people.

He was presented with the Diana Award at Barclays Bank's Headquarters in Canary Wharf , London .

Julian said: "It was quite a shock to receive this award because this work has been part of my life for so long."

Speaking about his help for other Young Carers he added: "Sometimes a friend-to-friend chat can seem a lot better than something more formal with someone in an official capacity."

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Children and Learning, Councillor Roger Hadley, said: "Many congratulations to Julian for winning such a very special and well-deserved award.

"It is very humbling to discover that despite the demands of his own caring role he has spent so much time supporting others in the same boat. We are honoured by the magnificent work of our Young Carers and it is so important for them to be able to have a break and meet each other. When they are able to take part in some of the activities arranged for them it is lovely to see the group have so much fun and for them to be able to cast aside their caring roles - if only for a couple of hours - and be young people once again."