A 16-year-old girl who cares for her autistic brother has set up a support group for young carers at her school in Hengoed.
Allesha Parker has cared for six-year-old Rhyd, who also has epilepsy, most of his life as her mum has a number of long term health problems.
Last year her mother was diagnosed with cancer, meaning Miss Parker had to provide more care for Rhyd and look after their 13-year-old brother.
The Lewis Girls’ School pupil set up the group with friend Gemma Williams, 16, and two other students in a bid to ensure her peers have the support she didn’t.
Young carers are aged between seven and 25 and cook, clean, wash and help relatives who cannot fully care for themselves.
Results of the 2011 Census showed there were nearly 2,000 young carers in Caerphilly County Borough and more than 500 of them were under 16.
Miss Parker said it is difficult to balance caring with her school and social life and has faced bullying and suffered from depression.
She said: “It’s really difficult. I come into school late because my little brother can sometimes have an episode and when he kicks off it takes an hour to calm him down.
“After school I look after him from 4.30pm until he goes to bed, cooking, baby-sitting and I give him his medicine if he has a seizure.
“Going out in public with Rhyd is really hard. He has a tee shirt that says ‘I’m not naughty I’m autistic’ that really helps, so people don’t judge you.
“I have found it really hard with the emotional side of things and hard going to school without support, so I wanted to make a difference for other people.
“People would bully me and make little remarks when they don’t know the story behind it, so I want to help people going through the same thing so they don’t have to bottle it up.
“They can talk about what they have to go through every day and just talk about life.”
Miss Parker has also set up the Rhyd Foundation to provide guidance and advice to young carers and families on social media and has found support through Barnardo’s.
She said: “I was under a lot of stress and depression from school work and because I was getting bullied, but Barnardo’s helped me out a lot.
“You get to go to a place where you have free time and enjoy yourself as much as you can.”
Last year Caerphilly County Borough Council supported 247 young carers through their Young Carers Service with Barnardo’s.
A Barnardo’s spokesman said the charity gives young carers a break and supports them through anger and frustration, but also helps them continue education .
For information and support visit Barnardo’s and follow @FoundationRhyd on Twitter.