MOST children spend their childhood running around playgrounds, getting into trouble with teachers and irritating neighbours.

But for 21-year-old Amy Dyke, it was a very different story.

The psychology student at Gloucestershire University has cared for her 43-year-old mum Lisa, who has gradually lost mobility and is now wheelchair bound, since the age of five.

Miss Dyke, who wants to be a mental health nurse after graduating, believes there is not enough support for people in her position, and is hoping that National Carers Week (June 6-12) can increase awareness for her and others in her position.

The 21-year-old from Warminster, who is engaged to her fiancé of four years, said: “I have been caring for my mum ever since I can remember. From the age of five I was taught how to use the lifeline button – a red button I was told to press if mum ever had a fall.

“Mum was diagnosed with spina bifida at birth in a very bleak way. She was told she wouldn’t be able to have children, but she proved doctors wrong and inspired other people in her position to try and have children too.

“And they’re not the only ones she has inspired – she is a massive inspiration to me. Whenever I’m having a bad day I look to her and she makes me feel better.

“One of the hardest things I had to do was leave home for university because I had become so used to looking after her. It was very tough.

“It can also be difficult to cheer her up when she’s going through a particularly bad period of illness, but that’s one of my main roles. It’s so important to keep on laughing.

“Not enough people understand what people in my situation go through, I really hope this week can raise awareness and lead to more support for young carers.

“It can be a very daunting world.”

This year, Carers Week is focusing on building Carer Friendly Communities, which are communities which support carers to look after their family or friends well, while recognising that they are individuals with needs of their own.

Catharine Hurford, chief executive of Carer Support Wiltshire, said: “In Wiltshire many organisations are in tune with carers, but some could do so much more.

“With one in 10 of us a carer, it is almost inevitable that a business, organisation or community has carers in its midst. Building carer-friendly communities is not instant, but we’ll get there – brick by brick.”

To find out more about National Carers Week, visit: www.carersweek.org