A SHIRLEY young carer has been handed a top award for her sports project.
Lydia Dziama was crowned winner of the Young Ambassador Award after being nominated by the Shirley Lions for the prize.
The 18-year-old devised a project that she wants to put into action to help young carers and having won the award, she will now receive a £500 bursary to put her plans into action.
This project is a sports respite project for young carers aged five and upwards.
The Solihull Sixth Form student said: “My sport project allows the kids to experience new opportunities and gain skills, but most importantly it allows them to be children.
“I am grateful to be given the opportunity to help carers get the breaks from their caring roles they deserve.
“I am happy that the money I have won is going to a good cause and helping others in similar positions to me.”
Lydia also volunteers as a peer mentor, which means working one-on-one or with small groups of young carers, allowing them to talk about their caring role, ask questions and have some fun.
This mentoring allows her to feedback to staff at the Carers Trust to get some support put in place if needed. Lydia is also a Young Leader and goes on many trips, supervising other young carers who are younger than her and leading them in activities.
