A HELENSBURGH teenager who struggled to balance her school work while caring for family members has praised a local group for its support.

Riana Jones, 17, has been a carer for her mum,who has Borderline Personality Disorder, and her brother, who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), since the age of 10.

She is one of the few people who have been part of Helensburgh and Lomond Carers group since it began.

Riana told the Advertiser she failed all of her fifth year prelims, but with the help and support of the young carers she hasn’t felt alone.

She said: “As a young carer, there is a lot we have to deal with and I don’t mean just physically. There is also a huge emotional impact.

“This can affect our friendships, our schoolwork and even the things we enjoy doing.

“It can be hard to deal with everything going on especially when it is so difficult to get away from it all.

“I am lucky enough to be one of the few people who have been part of Helensburgh and Lomond’s young carers group since it began. It means that I have had support in my role since 2011.”

During her time as part of the young carers group, Riana has had so many opportunities which she believes she wouldn’t have otherwise had. She was part of a young carers festival and had the chance to be part of the media team, interviewing MPs and MSPs, managing the production of a radio station and making lifelong friends.

As well as giving them the chance to take part in trips and try new experiences the Young Carers are there as a beacon of support for the carers and try to help in any way they can.

Riana explained: “The young carers haven’t just provided us with trips but they also help when we are struggling. When I have been at points where I have felt I can’t deal with everything, they have got services in to help me.

“They run homework clubs for both primary and secondary and they make sure that transport is there to get everyone home.

“I failed all of my fifth year prelims and so they got me a tutor, and from that, I managed to pass everything, get an A in one of my subjects and a B in the subject I needed a tutor for.

“Even just being able to go to homework club and get help with studying, or be able to talk to someone each week that will listen to me, made a difference.

“Helensburgh and Lomond’s Young Carers have given me so much to help me get through the hardest of times and I hope this can happen for other young people too.”

Riana stood up and shared her struggles, and how Helensburgh and Lomond Young Carers helped her, at an event to raise awareness about how challenging the role of a carer can be and the help that is available locally.

The event, held on January 26, was a national day of recognition for the UK’s 700,000 young carers and Helensburgh and Lomond Young Carers invited 20 carers along to meet partner organisations who could help.

A Young Carer Support worker added: “We currently have 196 young carers registered with the charity and through the awareness day we were able to inform the local community and partner organisations of how challenging their caring responsibilities can be.

“It is our role to ensure we put the most effective and appropriate supports in place for young carers allowing them to be a child first and foremost.”

Riana is urging anyone who is a young carer or anyone who knows of a young carer to get in touch with Helensburgh and Lomond Young Carers.

She said: “Being a part of the group can help someone more than you realise as it offers a support network and a way to escape from everyday things.

“I owe a lot to them, so thank you! Especially a massive thank you to Sharon and Pamela who do things out with their work hours to make sure we always feel that someone is there for us.”