Family of Northants five-year-old dedicating even more time to helping other carers across the country

A local family is doing everything they can to improve the support system for carers by reflecting on their own experiences.

Hayley and Andy Charlesworth, who live near Daventry have made it their mission to help other carers in so many different ways.

The couple’s son, five-year-old Harry, has cerebral palsy and his mum is currently his full-time carer.

Hayley said: “I didn’t know there was anything wrong with Harry until the day after he was born.

“He had a stroke on both sides of his brain and has been left significantly brain damaged.

“Harry was allowed home after a couple of weeks and received a lot of support, from physiotherapy to help with equipment.

“But we were surprised because as parents we did not receive any support.

“We were expected to look after this medically fragile baby and we were scared to death.”

As the family adapted to its new life and felt stronger in what they were doing, Hayley and Andy set up The Helping Harry Trust, which helps to contribute to Harry’s ongoing care, after they discovered they could not find any support.

Earlier this year, the family also launched a charity called Harry’s Pals that aims to provide parents of disabled children with counselling and respite breaks.

To mark Carers Week, the family has now launched a new campaign aiming to help more carers in the workforce and with accessibility in homes, called Harry’s Pledge.

Hayley added: “It’s just us saying from our perspective that as an employer this is what would be really good and as a housing association this is what would be helpful.

“For me, having workplaces be more understanding towards the needs of carers is really important and it’s about helping the employers to encourage carers to come to the workplace.

“We want to make people feel like there is a way to go back to work.”

Harry’s Pledge has already got 25 housing associations on board up and down the country and Hayley says the response has been ‘fantastic.’

Organisations wanting to get involved with Harry’s Pledge can visit the website.Anyone wanting to support Harry’s Pals, particularly during these troubling times for charities, can do so by searching the charity on Facebook.

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