Carers Trust Cambridgeshire is delighted to announce that our dedicated Young Adult Carer Ella McKenzie is to receive the prestigious Queen’s Young Leader Award in recognition of her outstanding caring and leadership role in the community.
Ella, 20, has been the primary carer for her mother who suffers from fibromyalgia, a long-term chronic condition, as well as her younger brother, 12, for the last five years; her father died when she was 17.
Ella is now working with Carers Trust Cambridgeshire who also support her in her caring role. She leads on projects for Young Adult Carers and has trained staff and GPs, as well as MPs, about the needs of Young Carers and Young Adult Carers. She also works in an advisory capacity on Young Adult Carers projects for NHS England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and national Carers Trust.
Ella will receive her award from the Queen next year. She is one of just 60 young people from across the Commonwealth to receive this highly acclaimed award, one of only three recipients from the UK. The Queen’s Young Leader Award recognises and celebrates exceptional people aged 18-29 from across the Commonwealth who are taking the lead in their communities and using their skills to transform lives. As part of the award, Ella will receive a unique package of training, mentoring and networking, and attend a one-week residential programme in the UK when she will collect her award from the Queen.
Ella said: “Winning the award is surreal, I was in shock when I heard. I had planned to one day join the Army, but now, after winning this award, I believe it will open more doors for me, I’ll be meeting many more young people who are doing amazing stuff and I will be learning much more from them. I would like to share this knowledge with our Young Adult Carers, teach them and develop them into young leaders. We can spread the word about carers and make the world a better place.”
A Carers Trust Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk spokesperson said Ella is an inspirational young woman.
She said: “This award is a fantastic recognition of Ella’s contribution to supporting and mentoring other young people who have a caring role. We are thrilled for Ella and hope the award will raise the profile of lifelong Young Carers and Young Adult Carers so they can be inspired to want to achieve dreams and aspirations.”
