Meet Jessica
Meet Jessica – a creative, thoughtful ten-year-old with a big heart, a love of sudoku, and a talent for crafting. She lives in Ayrshire with her mum Anna, younger brother Dominic, and their beautiful cat, Sky. Life at home is full of love – and responsibility.
Life as a Young Carer
Jessica isn’t just a big sister. She’s a young carer for Dominic, who has Down syndrome, a sleep disorder, and other complex health and behavioural needs. He’s non-verbal, has limited communication skills, and is awaiting further diagnoses for autism and ADHD. He also lives with multiple medical conditions, including a heart condition, pulmonary hypertension, hearing loss, and sensory processing disorder.
Caring for Dominic is a full-time job for Anna – and Jessica quietly steps in to help, every single day.
“I help by bringing Mum his tablets or his water bottle,” Jessica explains. “I get his diapers, help him at the table, and try to keep him entertained.”
It’s not just about practical support. Jessica sees the emotional weight of it too. “Sometimes my mum barely gets any sleep,” she says. “Sometimes she’s up at 3 or 4 in the morning with Dominic. It’s a lot.”
Despite the challenges, Jessica radiates positivity. “Being a young carer makes me feel special. I feel responsible,” she says with quiet pride.
But there are difficult moments too. “Sometimes I do feel overwhelmed when Dominic loses control and starts making a mess and won’t stop,” she admits. The family can rarely enjoy a meal together - Dominic often becomes distressed or physically unsettled, and shared time can quickly become chaos. “We usually eat separately,” says Anna. “We love him dearly, but we have to manage around his needs.”
Social life can be hard too. “I don’t usually spend time out because none of my friends live near me,” Jessica explains. “But I do have friends at school.” Her world outside the home is limited, not just by geography but by circumstance.
“Sometimes I do feel overwhelmed when Dominic loses control and starts making a mess and won’t stop.”
Finding Joy at Honeypot
That’s why Honeypot has been so important for Jessica.
She’s been on two residential Respite Breaks at Honeypot House in Dalleagles, and they’ve given her something rare: uninterrupted time to just be a child.
“It was so fun,” Jessica says, grinning. “We had dinner, played, and stayed in rooms with other kids. We even went to Edinburgh Zoo. I’d been before, but this time it felt really different. It was just for me.”
For her second break, a science experiment sponsored by a visiting company stole the show. “We rubbed our fingers on a jelly-like pad and saw how germs grew,” she laughs. “I was so excited to tell Mum about it!”
Anna saw the transformation too. “She came back so happy and relaxed,” she says. “She was chatting non-stop about what they did. I could see a real change in her general well-being. It’s clear how much those breaks mean to her - and how much she needs them.”
Jessica's favourite thing to do at Honeypot? “Making stickers! I love it – you can stick them on anything!” she says excitedly. She’s also a budding artist with dreams of selling her own designs. “I want to draw on cups, plates, shirts, shoes, and sell them to raise money for Children in Need.”
brighter futures
When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, Jessica lights up. “Maybe an archaeologist,” she says thoughtfully. “Or an artist.”
And what brings her joy for 30 minutes a day? “Doing arts and crafts... or watching my favourite show on Netflix. And sudoku!” she adds with a big smile.
Anna and Jessica do their best to navigate the daily complexities of caring for Dominic - but those few days at Honeypot give Jessica the space to breathe, to explore, and to just be a ten-year-old girl with dreams and paint-covered fingers.
Thanks to Honeypot, Jessica is building confidence, friendships, and memories that last far beyond the few days she spends away. For young carers like her, these breaks are not just a treat - they’re essential.
“It’s made such a difference. It gives her time away, time for herself. And she really deserves that.”
Help us support more young carers like Jessica.