Sam is a young carer who has a lot of responsibility at home. He provides significant support for his mum, who has multiple mobility issues and poor health. As well as helping with everyday tasks, Sam interprets for his mum, helping her to communicate and access the support she needs.
With his mum unable to work or drive and the family living on a low income, getting out and accessing opportunities isn’t always easy. For Sam, his bicycle offered something really important: a little independence.
It meant he could get out of the house, see his friends and enjoy some time away from his caring responsibilities.
So when Sam’s bike was stolen, he lost much more than a way of getting from one place to another. Without it, he had fewer opportunities to spend time with his friends and became increasingly isolated. For a young person already carrying considerable responsibility at home, those opportunities to simply have time for himself really mattered.
After talking with Sam and understanding the family’s circumstances, one of our advisers looked at how we could help. An application was made to the Carers Needs Fund for financial support towards a replacement bicycle.
The application was successful, and working with a local bike repair charity meant Sam was able to receive a second-hand bike.
Having a bike again gave Sam back some of the independence he had lost.
He could get out of the house more easily, spend time with friends and enjoy opportunities away from his caring role. It offered a simple but important way for him to stay connected with other young people and have time that was his own.
For Sam and his family, a second-hand bicycle might have been a practical solution, but its impact went much further. It gave a young carer greater freedom, helped reduce his isolation and created more opportunities for friendship, independence and a break from the responsibilities he carries at home.
