This National Carers Week, we’re recognising the thousands of carers – parents, relatives, friends and neighbours – who give their time, energy and love to support someone who depends on them. Many do this while balancing work, family life and the emotional load of caring for someone with complex needs, often with very little support for carers or access to community care.
In Bristol alone, recent local data shows over 34,000 unpaid carers, with more than 9,000 providing 50+ hours of care every week.* Behind every number is a family doing everything they can to keep their child safe, comfortable and included.
Families like Helen’s.
Helen and Sam:
Helen’s daily life revolves around keeping Sam safe, comfortable and loved.
Sam was born at 33 weeks and diagnosed at six months with grade 5 cerebral palsy and a cerebral vision impairment. He is blind, tube‑fed, non‑verbal and needs 24‑hour care.
For 15 years, Jessie May nurses have been part of their lives – offering a well-needed break, emotional support, and continuity of care.
“Whenever they come, I just seem to get verbal diarrhoea because I’m alone. It’s so isolating having a disabled child.”
“You can’t go out in the evenings. You can’t be spontaneous. You can’t leave him with anyone who isn’t trained. Even sleep is broken – we have night carers three nights a week, and our friend Zorro does the other three.”
Zorro, a lifelong friend of the family, has been part of Sam’s care since he was a baby. “He just fell in love with Sam,” Helen says. “He’s part of the family.”
We also want to recognise extraordinary people like Zorro – the friends, relatives and neighbours who quietly step in, show up, and help families keep going. Their support often makes the difference between coping and collapsing, and their love is woven into every part of a child’s life.
You can read their full story here: Sam’s Story
Abir and Bassel:
We also think of families like Abir and her son Bassel, who lives with Miller–Dieker Syndrome and lissencephaly – rare neurological conditions that affect his brain development, muscle tone, breathing and ability to swallow safely. He experiences seizures every day and is extremely vulnerable to respiratory infections.
Abir is his full‑time carer, and together they navigate life just the two of them at home. You can read their full story here: Bassel’s Story
Their courage reflects the reality of so many families caring for children with complex medical needs.
Parent carers often carry the weight of medical routines, equipment, feeding, pain management and sleepless nights. But they also carry the joy, pride and unconditional love that shines through every part of Helen’s and Abir’s stories.
What Parent Carers Need the Most…
Parent carers often tell us they need:
- Practical support
- Emotional reassurance
- Reliable and trusted care
- Clear information about benefits and entitlements
- A trusted professional who understands their child
To help families find the support they deserve, we’ve created a dedicated resource hub:
👉 Explore what support is available to you: https://jessiemay.org.uk/get-support/family-resources/
We See You…
To every carer, especially those who rarely pause long enough to recognise themselves as one, we want to say:
You are incredible. What you do matters. And you are never alone in it.
Jessie May will always be here for families like Helen’s and Abir’s, offering support, understanding and the kind of care that feels like someone truly being in your corner.
