Owen Powell, 22, an Army Cadet Instructor, also cares for his mother Karen

Owen Powell is among the growing “army” of Young Adult Carers in Rhondda Cynon Taf who is supported in a fulfilling life thanks to dedicated Council support.

As well as coping with the responsibility and demands of caring for another person, Owen, aged 22, is ambitious and also enjoys his rewarding life as an Army Cadet Instructor.

He is one of the Council’s 1,500 young adult carers who give up their valuable time to care for someone who is vulnerable, ill, disabled or affected by substance misuse.

Their work is so important and the Council recognises this through its innovative Carers support programme, dedicated to assisting them and the very specific issues they face.

Aged between 18 and 25, young adult carers have been identified as needing specific support, as many in this age range feel they are too old to be considered a young carer and too young to be considered an adult carer.

As a result, they can become disengaged from the extensive support on offer that allows them to be a carer, while also accessing the personal, social, leisure and educational opportunities they need as individuals.

With the help of the Big Lottery Fund, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council launched the Young Adult Carers Project, which has a dedicated Development Worker

Owen of Tylorstown in the Rhondda Valley, is among the Young Adult Carers benefitting from the initiative.

Unemployed, he dedicates his time to caring for his mother Karen Jones, aged 49, who was diagnosed with meningitis and a brain tumour in 2001. Having spent a considerable amount of time in hospital, Owen became her full-time carer.

Owen, a former pupil of Bodringallt Primary School and Ysgol Gyfun Cymer, joined the Army Cadets in 2005 and became an Instructor four years later.

He said: “My mother is the most important thing in my life. She has always been my main priority and I always put her first before anything else I do.

“I have to include her in all of my daily plans as although I no longer live with her, I care for my mother from the time she gets up in the morning until late in the evening. It is a hard job at times, but is also the best job in the world ever.

“I love my mother to bits and I wouldn’t want anyone else doing what I do for her. We have a strong bond of friendship and trust because I am with her every day, caring for her.

“I also enjoy teaching Army Cadets between the ages of 12 and 18 and in January 2013, I took over the command of Ferndale Army Cadet Force, putting me in charge. I find it thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding.”

Owen, who has three sisters Denise, 27, Catherine 14, and Carys, 11, cares for his mother around the clock, seven days a week, 365 days a year, juggling his daily duties and personal commitments - and he would not want it any other way.

He is delighted to be a part of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Young Adult Carers Project.

He said: “I receive lots of help and support from the Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Young Adult Carers Project. It has also put me in touch with people my age who are doing the same job as me at home.

“It has made me realise I am not alone and that hundreds more young people across Rhondda Cynon Taf are doing the same as me, day in, day out.

“It is great to meet like-minded people who can truly offer support as they face the same issues and adversities that I do.”

Owen works closely with the Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Young Adult Carers Project and is now the face of their new campaign in a bid to promote the Service and also recruit new Young Adult Carers.

“It’s a great group and I have met some great people who I have been able to help - and they have been able to help me, I’ve done several things with the Young Adult Carers project, including first aid courses, carers rights day, ice skating and adventure days including canoeing, caving rock climbing and even a day at the beach,” he said.

Cllr Mike Forey, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Partnerships and Adult Social Services, said: “Owen is a shining example of what our Young Adult Carers Project offers in terms of guidance, support and also lasting friendships among other Young Adult Carers.

“With Owen, as indeed all of our Young Adult Carers, caring comes first, naturally, but we are also mindful that they are also young people, who need to do things that young people do.

“The Group arranges social events and get-togethers and gives them the opportunities to socialise and enjoy new experiences with like-minded people of their own age.

“It is important that our Young Adult Carers have this “me” time in order to let them recharge their batteries.”

For information about the Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Young Adult Carers project contact Development Worker Hayley Thomas on 01443 668867 or email Hayley.Thomas@rctcbc.gov.uk

General information can be found via the freephone CarersLine on 0808 100 1801. You can also email carerssupportproject@rctcbc.gov.uk