Ten-year-old carer named Young Person of the Year

Ry and Asa at their home in Shipley

A 10-year-old boy who helps to care for his disabled parent has said it "felt like a dream" to be named Young Person of the Year by a disability charity.

Asa, from Shipley, said he enjoyed helping around the house and doing jobs like hanging up the washing and making cups of tea for Ry, who has multiple health problems and uses a wheelchair.

After winning the national accolade at the Sense Awards, Asa said: "I am still in shock to be honest.

"I take all the things I can do for granted and then when I realise other nine and 10-year-olds can't do them, then I realise."

Ry, who uses the personal pronouns "they" and "them", was a fit and healthy yoga teacher until they caught Covid-19 during the pandemic.

They now live with several serious health problems and the chronic fatigue syndrome ME.

Ry and Asa in August 2020 before Ry's illness

Ry said: "Asa was only five when I got ill.

"I have loads of lovely photographs, even from 2020 when we camped in the garden and all the things we did.

"Then all of a sudden I went from that to being in bed and not really being able to do anything else.

"He has gone from being just my arms and legs, picking things up for me, to being a fundamental part of how we exist together.

"He has learned how to cook, how to make our tea, how to make breakfast and do stuff around the house like do some of the washing, hang the washing out."

They are also supported by carers and personal assistants but this help is not extended to evenings and weekends.

Asa holds his Sense Young Person of the Year award

Asa said he came up with the idea of "Helpful Hour".

He said: "I do all the things that need to be done, then I go to bed.

"Like let's say the floor needs hoovering, done! My bedroom needs tidying, done!

"I don't call them chores because I enjoy doing them, but sometimes I'm just too tired as my mum says, because I am 10."

Ry said the pair also enjoyed watching films and TV series together and played a lot of board and card games.

They also do lots of arts and crafts and explore Asa's love of science.

Ry said: "What he has learnt and how he has adapted to our situation is really incredible.

"There are days when he has not got the energy, he doesn't have the capacity.

"There are days when he just needs to be a complete kid and that's totally understandable and how it should be, but more days than not he is there and he's helping me out.

"It's really nice to see him learning these really important life lessons, he knows how to put a bin bag in the bin and you would be surprised how many people don't know how to do that.

"I don't rely on him because he is 10, but when he is here there is so much more joy in the house and it just makes everything feel much more possible."

Asa is supported by Sense's Siblings and Young Carers group.

Kalvender Tatter, who works on the programme for Sense, said: "Asa is a shining example of a young carer.

"He handles his responsibilities with so much care, strength and positivity.

"His kind and warm nature spreads through the group."