Teenage Trim carer in TV documentary

Fourteen-year-old Marita Kilduff from Trim is among the young carers who will feature in a documentary on RTE One television on Tuesday 23rd November which explores the reality of the lives of children who take on the role of looking after a parent. Little is know about Ireland's young carers, yet every day throughout Ireland, young people quietly care for sick or disabled relatives, bound by bonds of love and loyalty. With exceptional access to four families, this new one-hour observational documentary, 'Children in Charge: Ireland's Young Carers', reveals for the first time the reality of what life is like when a child takes on the role of caring for a parent. Made over the course of nine months, producer Ailbhe Maher and director Gerry Nelson have crafted a revealing and thought-provoking film. From Spanish Point to Trim, 'Children in Charge' shows that all over the country there are children taking on responsibilities beyond their years as they care for an ill family member. For the first time, this documentary gives a voice to these young carers and asks who is looking out for them and why are they not supported? Fourteen-year-old Marita, who features on the documentary, says: “A bad day is when you get loads of homework, if Mom falls and you don't know what to do and then you get into trouble for not doing all the homeworkâ€. 'Children in Charge: Ireland's Young Carers' sees raw and emotional accounts from mothers who find themselves in dilemmas as they ask their child to do chores and help them wash and dress. Mothers like Anne Kilduff Lynam who says about her daughter Marita: “I feel she is missing out on being a child or a teenager. I don't think Marita should have to do it but, because of the situation we're in, you know, we have no choice.†She adds: “They are talking about the Childcare Bill coming in but they're not talking about children that are taking care of people at home and doing things behind closed door.†The documentary will air at 9.35pm next Tuesday, 23rd November.