AS A young girl Amy Stacey struggled with the demands of being a young carer and coping with school life.

Since then she has been determined to raise awareness of the role in schools by producing a DVD.

Amy, 19, from Maldwyn Close, Middleaze, was carer to her mum Jeanny who suffers from fibromyalgia, a painful chronic condition.

Amy, pictured, would help around the house, give her mother a massage, make sure she took her medicine and also look after her younger brother Adam who is now 14.

She said: “What wound me up was if I hadn’t done my homework I was put in detention and they never understood that I couldn’t stay because I was needed at home,’’ she said.

She became a key member of the Young Carers Forum and helped form the Young Carers Strategy. She produced the DVD as part of ITN’s Fixers programme.

“I admired the help I got when I was a carer and I love to help them out,’’ said Amy, who still goes along every week to mentor young carers.

She has now been nominated for a Pride Of Swindon Award by Deb Bignall, the manager of the Young Carers Team, who said: “Amy’s an excellent role model for other young carers.’’

Amy said: “When I speak to people they say you were on TV at my school or they saw me on the ITV news when it was broadcast.’’

She works full time as trainee assistant manager at The Brook House, part of the Hungry Horse chain of restaurants.

“I have two days off a week, Mondays I help with young carers and to relax on Thursdays I play poker,’’ she said. “I am often the only girl but I give them a run for their money.’’

When she heard that she had been nominated for Pride Of Swindon she burst into tears. “I got up and cried. They have done so much for me, all I wanted was to repay what they had done. The nomination is a bonus,’’ she said.

Amy is hoping to take on the role of voluntary fundraiser for the young carers and is already coming up with ideas.

The Pride Of Swindon awards ceremony will be on Thursday April 7 at Steam Railway Museum.