'BE proud of your caring role!'

That's the message to the district's young carers from a charity which supports them.

Carers' Resource paid tribute to the "amazing" youngsters as part of Young Carers Action Day.

And the charity used the initiative to launch a video, in which several young people speak about their caring responsibilities and challenges faced.

Young carers may look after someone because they have an illness or disability, experience poor mental health or have alcohol or drugs issues.

Amongst those to speak about her experiences – and the support received from Carers' Resource – is 17-year-old Sophia Newton, who helps look after her mum.

She says: "Before I was with the Carers’ Resource young carers service it was difficult to manage. It was confusing and stressful, I didn’t know why my life was how it was. And then when I was referred to the young carers service, it all started to kind of make sense.

"Eventually the more I’d been with the service my role became something to be proud of, to appreciate and be grateful for, because it gives me a lot more experience for my life ahead.

"I’m going into the 'big wide world' soon and without being a young carer, I wouldn’t have had a clue how I’d manage. I wouldn’t have the independence that I do."

To tie in with Young Carers Action Day, Carers' Resource staged celebratory activities at its Keighley youth club and others.

And it is organising an arts project which aligns with this year's action day theme of 'fair futures for young carers'. Participants will produce artwork in the form of paintings, photographs, drawings and quotes they've written, which will be exhibited in libraries and council buildings during Carers Week in June.

Helen Prince, head of young carers and families at Carers’ Resource, says: "Young Carers Action Day was a great opportunity to focus on the amazing things young carers do every day of the year.

"We were delighted to put the spotlight on them, helping them to be proud to be a young carer and inspiring them to think about the futures they want and deserve."

Carers’ Resource provides a range of support to young carers in the Bradford, Harrogate, Selby and Craven districts.

As well as offering one-to-one help, it organises trips, activities and youth clubs.

For more details, visit carersresource.org or call 0808 50 15 939.