Max’s story: from caring to centre stage

Max’s story: from caring to centre stage

Max is a young carer who plays a vital role in supporting his mum, who lives with depression, anxiety, and fibromyalgia. Alongside helping with day-to-day responsibilities, Max provides emotional support, working hard to ensure that home life feels calm, safe and as positive as possible. Meanwhile, Max is also studying for his exams, carefully balancing schoolwork, revision, and his caring responsibilities.

Max has a passion for drama, allowing him to express himself and imagine a different future. While attending a local young carers' support group which included drama-focused sessions, Max spoke openly about how much he loves acting. He shared that he dreams of studying drama at college and possibly turning it into a career. However, when the opportunity arose to join a local drama group, Max hesitated. The cost of attending sessions were a barrier that might put his dream out of reach.

Recognising this, his Carer Support Worker stepped in to help. Together, they applied for a Time to Live microgrant, which funded a block of drama lessons for Max, opening a door that had previously felt closed.

With the support of the grant, Max now attends regular weekly sessions. These structured times give him something positive to focus on and provide a consistent break from his caring role. Importantly, he and his mum have worked together to plan around these sessions, ensuring that both feel comfortable and prepared.

The experience has not only given Max a creative outlet but also something to share and talk about at home, lifting both of their spirits. By easing the pressure and creating opportunities, support like this helps young carers like Max step into the spotlight of possibility, where they can begin to shape the futures they deserve.

Find out more about Time to Live here.