Brooke's story: keeping on track with a Fitbit

Brooke's story: keeping on track with a Fitbit

Brooke is a 17-year-old carer, providing regular support to her dad who lives with arthritis and experiences ongoing mental health challenges. Alongside school, Brooke helps with household duties such as housework and meal preparation, while also offering emotional support when her dad is struggling.

Despite her caring responsibilities, Brooke continues to thrive. She is doing well at school, maintains a strong friendship group, and remains focused on her future aspirations. Brooke is passionate about fitness and hopes to become a PE teacher when she is older.

During a meeting with her Young Carer Support Worker, Brooke spoke about her love of exercise and the importance of maintaining her fitness to support both her wellbeing and her long-term career goals. To help her stay motivated and continue progressing, Brooke successfully applied for a Time to Live microgrant.

The grant enabled Brooke to purchase a Fitbit and a subscription to a fitness app. These resources allow her to track her activity levels, monitor progress, set achievable goals, and access advice on nutrition and exercise. Having these tools helps Brooke to prioritise her own wellbeing while balancing the demands of being a young carer.  

The Fitbit has also encouraged Brooke to take regular breaks and make time for herself, something that can often be difficult for young carers who spend so much time supporting others.

Brooke's dad said:  

"I can't thank you enough for supporting Brooke. She loves fitness and training, so this means so much to her. It feels good for her to have something for herself, as she does so much for me."

Through this grant, Brooke has been given the opportunity to invest in her own health and wellbeing, while continuing to pursue her ambitions. The Fitbit and fitness app are helping her stay active, motivated and focused on achieving her dream of becoming a PE teacher in the future.

Find out more about Time to Live here.