A YOUNG carer is calling on the Government to guarantee training for professionals to ensure unpaid carers get the support they need.

Eighteen-year-old Courtney McDonald, from Hollins, started caring for her mum last year.

However when she sought out support she found people were unable to offer or direct her to the help she required.

Miss McDonald said: “Last January I became a carer for my mum.

"I was still in college at the time and when I approached my tutors about being a carer they didn’t know how to respond. I felt unvalued because they didn’t know what to do.”

Miss McDonald added that without the right support she faced many difficult questions, and being a carer took a significant toll on her life.

She said: “I managed to finish college and pass and I wanted to go to university but there was a question of “should I go and leave someone else to care for my mum, or do I give up on what I want to help my family?”

“I now go to the Bury College University Centre, but I think for a lot of people being a carer impacts their lives and wellbeing.

“I wasn’t able to go out and socialise with people my own age and that was impacting on my mental health.”

Miss McDonald has now launched a petition calling for the introduction of mandatory training for professionals ­— particularly in the health and social care sectors ­— around carers and their needs.

According to Carers.org around seven million people, or one in 10, in the UK are carers.

However, Miss McDonald says many people in positions of responsibility are lacking in knowledge about carers and that giving people training would allow them to identify unpaid carers earlier and give them help and support quicker.

This is vital, she says, as more unpaid carers come forward for support while at the same time many others feel unable to ask for help.

Miss McDonald also noted that many people report having their own health issues after becoming a carer for a family member, friend or relative.

She said: “I started the petition because professionals that come into contact with carers on a regular basis need to have the knowledge about what a carer is, what we do and how best to support us."

“I think there’s a lot of stigma around carers. When I first became one I didn’t say I was one because I was caring for my mum and I felt it was my job and a lot of people feel like this.

“I just want more recognition around carers and for more politicians to start talking about it, because then more people generally will discuss it.” To sign up to the petition or for more information visit petition.parliament.uk/petitions/245415.