Child of Courage nominee – Joelle Anyafufu

Child of Courage nominee – Joelle Anyafufu

Joelle Anyafufu is just seven years old but is already a carer for her mum, who has a physical disability.

She provides emotional support for her mum, who is often in a lot of pain, and helps around their Stoke-on-Trent home.

Joelle makes her own snacks, does the washing up, tidies the house and uses a dustpan and brush on the floors because she hasn’t learned how to use a vacuum cleaner yet.

She showers herself with supervision from her mum, Favour Anyafufu, because her mum’s disability means it is difficult to use the bath, and has been carrying shopping home from the age of around three years.

Joelle has been nominated in the Child of Courage category of the Your Heroes Awards by Jess Graham, Young Carers Wellness Worker at North Staffs Carers.

Jess said: “Joelle is a very happy, bubbly young lady and is very proud of her caring role.”

Favour said: “She really does help me a lot. I know that if I didn’t have the health challenges I have then I wouldn’t want her to do some of the things she does. That includes things like fixing her own meals – things like sandwiches and toast – then doing the dishes and understanding the importance of cleaning up after making a meal.

“She cleans and tidies the house, knows how to use a dustpan and brush and picks up rubbish.

“I struggle with the bath so she steps into the shower and washes herself while I supervise.”

Favour added: “Sometimes if I can’t do something with her she’ll say ‘mummy, I know if you were well you would have done better’.

“Sometimes it’s like I’m talking with a fellow grown-up in terms of the encouragement she gives me. It’s like I’m receiving counselling from a young child that I should be coaching.”