17 years old. 17 months apart, 17 days together. ‘Yes’ doesn’t count.
Messages that young people receive are often contradictory. On the one hand, the media is always telling you about your rights and responsibilities, and on the other, teachers and parents are warning you of the consequences of some of your actions. Through drama workshops, we began to get a better understanding of the how young people have to look after adult family members and the impact this has on their lives. These young carers often have adult responsibilities from a very early age. They have accelerated childhoods and can see themselves as adults, ‘young people old before their time’.