Meet Lilly-Rose
Ten-year-old Lilly-Rose is a bright, caring, and quietly determined young girl from Wales. She lives with her mum, Laura, and their pets. But unlike most children her age, Lilly-Rose is also a young carer. Her mum lives with multiple chronic health conditions, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, asthma, and sleep apnea, all of which significantly affect her mobility and daily life.
“I’m in pain all the time. So Lilly helps out a lot more than a child of her age usually would. ”
Lilly-Rose’ role at home includes making breakfast, helping with the laundry, and feeding the pets. She wakes up before her mum, gets herself ready for school, prepares meals for herself and mum, and often pitches in with chores around the house in the evening before heading to bed.
“Sometimes being a young carer makes me feel a bit moody, tired or anxious. Other times I’m okay. ”
Despite this responsibility, Lilly-Rose remains quietly resilient. She still makes time for her schoolwork - usually on Sundays during what the family affectionately call a “pyjama day” - and enjoys maths, especially sudoku and being quizzed by mum on tricky sums. But being a young carer has inevitably affected her social life and confidence.
Laura reflects, “We don’t go out much because of my pain, and I often wonder if that’s affected Lilly’s ability to socialise. She does struggle with some social anxiety.”
That’s where The Honeypot Children’s Charity has made a real difference.
Lilly-Rose first attended a Honeypot Residential Respite Break at Pen y Bryn House in Newtown, Wales, when she was seven years old. Like many young carers, she was initially nervous about being away from home.
“I was a bit nervous and sad,” Lilly-Rose remembers. “I was worried about mum. But when I got there, I felt really happy.”
Honeypot’s residential breaks offer a chance for young carers like Lilly-Rose to experience carefree childhood moments - something they too often miss. During her stays, Lilly-Rose loves swimming, outdoor play, arts and crafts and making new friends. “I like playing with the new people,” she says, smiling. “It’s nice because they’re young carers too, so they understand.”
Laura has noticed the difference in Lilly-Rose. “She’s been six or seven times now, and each time she comes back a bit more confident. Honeypot gives her that space to grow and enjoy herself without the pressure of caring.”
This year, Lilly-Rose was also invited on a Honeypot SEAL Learning Break - a school-linked programme designed to boost self-esteem and confidence through engaging educational experiences and peer support. Referred by her school, Lilly-Rose joined 11 other classmates for a few days away, packed with activities, projects, and even public speaking.
“We went to the Ironworks. We had a chart where we had to write down what iron things we saw and answer questions about animals.”
Perhaps the most transformative part of the SEAL break came when Lilly-Rose stood up to present her findings to her group. “I was a bit nervous,” she admits, “but it helped me feel more confident.”
Laura agrees. “She came back really happy and rested. She even did karaoke for the first time – and won the Bumble Amazing Karaoke Queen award - she loved it!”
These moments, while seemingly small, are deeply impactful. For young carers like Lilly-Rose, who often carry adult-sized responsibilities, opportunities to build confidence, make friends, and simply be kids are vital.
When asked what she wants to do when she grows up, Lilly-Rose isn’t sure yet. But what’s clear is that she has the curiosity, intelligence, and determination to go far. “She likes to be quizzed on maths problems,” Laura says. “She always asks me to make them really hard!”
Thanks to Honeypot’s support, Lilly-Rose’ future is brighter - and her present just a little lighter. With each visit to Honeypot Pen y Bryn House through both Respite and SEAL Learning Breaks, she is gaining the confidence, joy, and childhood she deserves.