Amaya’s story: planting seeds for the future

Amaya’s story: planting seeds for the future

Amaya became a carer for her elderly parents after her mother was diagnosed with a long-term health condition. As her caring responsibilities increased, she found it increasingly difficult to balance work and supporting her family. Eventually, Amaya made the difficult decision to leave her job to care for her parents.

Gardening has always been an interest of Amaya's, and her parents had a beautiful garden that her mother particularly loved. Spending time outside helping to maintain the garden became a welcome escape from the challenges of caring. What began as a way to relax soon developed into a real passion.

While discussing additional support options with her support worker, Amaya learned about Time to Live. Recognising her interest in gardening and the positive impact it was having on her wellbeing, they discussed how Time to Live funding could help her pursue this passion further. Amaya was awarded a Time to Live grant, which she used towards an online gardening course.

"For me, choosing the online gardening course was essential. I needed something flexible that would fit around my caring responsibilities. It allowed me to learn at my own pace, and because gardening is something I'm passionate about, it felt like the perfect choice."

The course has provided Amaya with much more than new gardening skills. It has given her a renewed sense of purpose and reminded her that it is possible to pursue personal goals while continuing to care for others.

"It's very easy to lose a bit of yourself as a carer, especially if you've had to walk away from a career. Caring is very focused and there's often very little time to do something for yourself. You can even feel guilty about putting your own needs first."

Through the support of Time to Live and the flexibility of online learning, Amaya has been able to invest in herself, build her confidence, and take positive steps towards her future all while continuing to care for the people who matter most to her.

Find out more about Time to Live here.