Olivia's story: balancing support, study and strength

Olivia’s story: balancing support, study and strength

Olivia, a young adult carer who balances caring for her family with pursuing her own future. She provides daily support for her younger sister who has Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, helping her get to school, supporting her routines, and making sure she feels safe and cared for. Olivia also looks after her mum, who struggles with alcohol use, often taking on household responsibilities and ensuring both are safe and well.

Despite all that she does, Olivia remains committed to her education. She is currently studying at college, working part‑time, and preparing for the transition to university. However, managing so many responsibilities can be exhausting, and she rarely has time or space to focus on herself - something that weighs on her, especially during difficult moments.

In a recent conversation regarding support, Olivia shared that one of the few ways she finds respite is by taking her laptop to a café to study. Being able to sit somewhere quiet and warm helps her concentrate and gives her a much‑needed break from the pressures at home. However, the cost of doing this regularly makes it something she can’t always afford. Time to Live was able to support her with this.

“I received two vouchers for my local coffee shop via Time to Live. This meant so much to me. Even though this is a small offer, for me it was genuinely meaningful that lets me treat myself without worrying about the cost.”

Find out more about Time to Live here.