A SHORT film that shines a light on the responsibilities young carers undertake to support their families is being shown at Milford Haven’s Torch Theatre this week.

The film, This is Us, marks today’s, January 25, Young Carers Awareness Day.

‘This is Us’ will be shown in a number of cinemas across Pembrokeshire, including Theatre Gwaun Fishguard, Palace Cinema Haverfordwest, and the mobile Small World Theatre, this week ahead of main features as Action for Children calls for more funding for young carers.

The film follows Action for Children’s Pembrokeshire Young Carers joining forces with the Arts Society in West Wales.

Action for Children’s young persons’ worker at Pembrokeshire Young Carers, Vikki Booth said: “Figures show that there are 700,000 young carers in the UK with 29,000 young carers known to the authorities in Wales. The issues they face can range from loneliness and depression to missing out on activities many children take for granted and just needing a break.

“The film was a great opportunity to highlight just what our young carers do to support their families and raise awareness of the enormous responsibilities taken on at such a young age.”

Young carers carry out caring duties at home, often looking after an ill parent, helping to run the house by washing up or caring for siblings.

Some like 13-year-old Noah Pooley from Pembroke, do all of these things on a daily basis.

Noah said: “My sister has uncontrollable epilepsy and a big part of every day is spent looking after her. My brother has mild autism and my father has ME so I help my brother keep calm and take over from my dad when he can’t do anymore in day.

“Action for Children give me a break from caring for my sister and then I can try not to think about it as there’s stuff to do and I can make new friends too. I think it is very important to meet other young people doing in a similar situation as if you just want to talk to someone, they understand what you’re going through and you understand what they’re going through.”