Child of Courage nominee – Skye Hemmings

Child of Courage nominee – Skye Hemmings

Skye Hemmings is just nine years old but she is already a carer for both her mum and her older sister.

She helps her mum to get dressed, including taking care of zips and buttons that her mum finds difficult.

The Bentilee schoolgirl brings her mum her medication and understands the importance of safety around this. Skye also supports her older sister who has physical disabilities.

She has been nominated in the Child of Courage category of the Your Heroes Awards by Jess Graham, a young carers wellness worker at North Staffs Carers.

Her mum, Sarah Hemmings, said: “Skye is brilliant. She’s here more or less full time with her dad helping to look after me and helping with jobs around the house.

“I can’t get out to do physical things with her so Skye and me have art and things like that we can do together in the house. With me being the way I am, it’s not easy. She helps so much.

“If we go down to her sister’s, she helps her sister as well. When Skye was aged about six her sister wasn’t well and I remember Skye going to find a blanket and a teddy and covering her sister up to help her feel better. She has been caring a lot for a long time now.

“She’s used to being around me and her older sister, and we’re both disabled. It’s what she’s used to but caring is also in her nature.

“Her auntie is also disabled and if we go there Skye will help there too. It’s just Skye being Skye.

“We are all very proud of her and we’re very proud that she’s been able to do things like Scouting, through while she recently gained her Bronze Award. I want her to be able to do those sorts of things as well, to still be able to be a child.

“Her teachers all say that she helps them in the classroom. She’s just one of those kids who wants to help.”

Skye attends Berryhill Scouts, dances and will be taking part in a gang show through Scouting.