Becky helps care for three disabled siblings
Teenager wins £1,000 for herself and charity
Becky Ladds helps care for her two brothers and one sister. The boys are both Autistic and her sister has Asperger’s syndrome, which is similar to Autism.
Becky cannot remember a time when she has not been in this caring role. The eldest brother is her twin and she has communicated for him since they were toddlers.
Today she makes sure her siblings take their medicine, keeps them safe, plays with them, and worries about them as well as helping her mum, who is partly disabled, with the household chores.
When Becky first joined Spurgeons Young Carers project in 2003, she had been excluded from school. This was due in part to Becky being bullied but also her need to test boundaries. Even at this stage, says Spurgeons worker Jane Lightfoot, it was easy to see this was a thoughtful and caring person.
Jane, who nominated Becky, has watched her grow into a fine young woman. Jane says: "Becky is honest, reliable and trustworthy. Becky is always thinking of other people’s feelings and although she likes to joke about and have fun this is never at the expense of others. Becky would never intentionally hurt anyone’s feelings."
Whenever there is a new member on the project, Becky is the one who looks out for them. She makes them feel welcome and included. The 17-year-old gets on equally well with Spurgeons’ adult staff.
Becky is coming up to 18 and will no longer be eligible to be a member of the Young Carers project but she has applied to be a 'Buddy' for Spurgeons.
Becky was presented with two cheques for £500 each – one for Spurgeons and one for herself.
