Sheffield student who became carer for alcoholic mum at 16 wins BBC young reporter award

As a young carer, Niamh witnessed her mum being hospitalised numerous times and, eventually, try to take her own life before getting the help she needed.

Thankfully she is now one year sober and is settled in Scarborough – while Niamh, 18, is following her dreams of becoming a journalist and will be going into her second year at The Sheffield College in September.

Niamh recently found the courage to share her story, writing a powerful entry for the BBC Young Reporter 2020 competition.

From more than 2,000 entrants across the UK, the budding journalist from Stocksbridge then went on to win the gold award for her piece in the 'My World 16-18' category.

Niamh said: “Being so open is so scary but I wrote the story down and just thought you know what I’m in such a better place mentally, I’ve never felt more confident and happier within myself. There are other young people out there in the same position, not knowing what to do.

“I just thought I needed to be a voice for those young people and to tell my story in order to help others. I remember when they said I’d won gold I cried, I’ve turned such a negative experience into a positive and it reassured me that I am capable of doing the things I want to do.”

Sam Cooper, journalism course leader at The Sheffield College, said: "To even be part of such a prestigious competition is an amazing but to go on and win gold is incredible.

"Niamh is a fantastic student and her writing proves that.

"It was a very brave decision to write about such a personal, sensitive topic but she did it in a very emotive way and I could not be prouder of her."

Mr Cooper also praised Niamh for her work ethic and for completing a successful work experience placement at BBC Radio Sheffield.

"Niamh's confidence has grown so much since she first started the course and she is just one example of the fantastic students we have in our journalism department," he added.

Explaining life as a young carer, Niamh said: “I first started picking things up when I started secondary school. She’d come home and say have two bottles of wine.

“It started to become more of an illness and was affecting her daily life. I took on the parenting role and had to look after myself and make sure my brother was fed, make sure the house was clean, make sure mum was paying the bills, make sure we had food in.

“There’s not enough information out there and because of how much alcohol is normalised in today’s society - people see it as a positive thing - we thought it was normal.”

Niamh says it took a long time to forgive her mum for the hurt she caused, however, their relationship is now on the mend and the roles are reversed once more.

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