Meet Blake
Blake is 11 years old, and like many boys his age, he loves music and dreams of becoming a professional boxer or guitarist. His favourite boxer is Muhammad Ali, and when he picks up his guitar, you’ll hear old-school rock - Metallica, Nirvana, Pink Floyd. He’s even mastered “Master of Puppets” and “Seven Nation Army.”
But behind those big dreams, Blake has a very grown-up role at home. He lives with his mum and two sisters, and his mum has several health conditions, including fibromyalgia and reactive hypoglycemia. One of Blake’s sisters also has health issues, adding to the family’s challenges. Blake himself is autistic and receives additional support at school. Despite this, Blake quietly takes on responsibilities that make a huge difference to his family.
“Blake doesn’t always realise how much he does - but I see it every day. His awareness, reliability, and kindness make a real difference to our family’s wellbeing. He’s not just helping - he’s caring, in every sense of the word.”
facing challenges
Blake’s day-to-day responsibilities go far beyond what most people expect from an 11-year-old. At home, he’s the one who tackles the heavy lifting - carrying bags, undoing stubborn jars, and even painting the garden fence. He walks the dog too, and whenever his mum needs to go out, Blake is right by her side. He knows she feels anxious about managing her blood sugars alone, so he goes along to make sure she’s safe.
Blake is also his mum’s health monitor. He understands how to check her Libre sensor app and recognises the alarms instantly. If they go off at night, Blake wakes up without hesitation, nudges his mum, and fetches a drink or something sweet to help. When they’re in the car, he’s alert, watching the readings and reminding her to pull over if her blood sugar drops below 3.4.
On top of that, Blake helps with everyday tasks like making cups of tea, assisting with meals, and bringing in the shopping. He even steps in to look after his niece and nephew, offering gentle supervision and play when his mum needs to rest. And through it all, Blake provides emotional support - comforting his mum when she’s worried, and asking his older siblings for help when he thinks something isn’t right.
Blake’s caring role can be demanding. He sometimes feels anxious, especially when alarms go off, and worries about his mum’s health. His mum is concerned that Blake doesn’t always express when he is struggling as he is autistic, and unrelated triggers can sometimes overwhelm him.
Blake has also faced bullying in primary school, but since moving to secondary school, he has had a fresh start. He has grown in confidence, made new friends, and joined several after-school clubs, including boxing, guitar, and a young carers group.
Finding time to be a child
Blake has enjoyed three short breaks at Honeypot’s Pen y Bryn House in Wales, plus a memory-making day and support through Honeypot’s wellbeing fund. At first, he was nervous about being away from his mum, but each visit has become easier.
For Blake, Honeypot is more than a break. It’s a chance to be his own person, free from responsibility.
His highlights? Playing guitar in the Hive and baking cakes with friends.
“It’s important for him to enjoy himself and recognise that he can have that time to let go.”
Why Honeypot Matters
Honeypot’s support didn’t stop at the short breaks. Blake also received help through the Wellbeing Fund, which covered the cost of his secondary school uniform. For his mum, this was took a weight off her shoulders knowing Blake could start school feeling confident and included.
Blake in his new uniform
As part of our wrap-around service, we provide young carers from financially disadvantaged homes with small grants of up to £250 to help access a wide range of essential resources so that they are able to enjoy some of the things many others may take for granted.
Blake’s story shows how much young carers give and why they need time to just be kids. Honeypot helps make that possible, giving children like Blake space to laugh, play, and dream big.
“If I was to give a favourite memory, I would say EVERYTHING!”
Help us support more young carers like Blake.