Mental health. The show, to work on, is loving and caring and safe and protected the problem is that the outside world is not. Anyone whos ever compared one woman against another on twitter, knocked someone because of their appearance, invaded someone elses privacy, who have made mean, unnecessary comments on an online forum need to look at themselves. Well be talking to a barrister who called the cps prosecution against Caroline Flack a show trial and former Love Island Co ntesta nts about the pressures of being in the public eye. Hi, welcome to the programme. Were live until 11 this morning. If you are a young carer, or you are looked after by your child, please do let us know. We are talking to young carers who, according to a new report, a work in the equivalent of a Part Time Job with 12 grand a year. I mean, this isa with 12 grand a year. I mean, this is a scandal. So if you are a young carer, 01 is a scandal. So if you are a young carer, or if your child or teenager looks after you, we really welcome your insight this morning. Before that, lets bring you a summary of the news so far today with carrie gracie. Thanks, victoria. Nearly 300 flood warnings, five of them severe, remain in place across the uk this morning in the aftermath of storm dennis. Major incidents have been declared in south sales and parts of england, and there have been multiple landslides and floods some trapping residents. Hundreds more have been rescued from their homes in worcestershire and shropshire. Its going underwater slowly the kitchen, living room, so. But we got the three dogs out, so that is all that matters. Meanwhile, the met office is to get a new £1. 2 billion supercomputer to provide more accurate weather and climate forecasts. The government says it will be the most advanced technology of its kind. Itv will tonight screen the First Episode of love island since the death of its former presenter Caroline Flack. She took her own life on saturday. The show had been pulled for two consecutive nights as a mark of respect. Health officials are to tell schools here that they do not need to close or send staff and pupils home, if theres a suspected case of coronavirus. Public Health England will say no restrictions or special control measures are needed while tests are carried out on a suspected case. New guidance is to be issued later today. A visibly upset sir eltonjohn has been forced to cut short a concert in new zealand afterfalling ill with walking pneumonia. The musician lost his voice midway through his set at aucklands Mount Smart Stadium on sunday. Sir elton appeared to break down in tears as he leaned on his piano and shook his head. The audience gave the singer a rapturous ovation as he walked gingerly off stage, helped by several assistants. A song recorded by coldplays frontman, chris martin, when he was just 12 years old, has been put up for sale by one of his former schoolmates. The singer won a School Competition with the composition in 1989. He performed the piece with a group of fellow pupils at Exeter Cathedral school. The tape was discovered by simon corser, who said the song was very catchy and everyone else in the competition didnt stand a chance. Star quality witnessed early, you are up to date with all the stories come back to victoria for the rest the programme. Love island will be back on tv this evening with a tribute to its former host Caroline Flack, who was found dead at her flat on saturday at the age of a0. The saturday and sunday programmes were cancelled out of respect for carolines family, according to an itv statement. Caroline flack had been due to stand trial for Domestic Abuse. Her agent called it a show trial. The London Ambulance service confirmed that it had gone to herflat on friday night to assess her health. Some time after that, she took her own life. Since her death, a petition calling for new laws around media regulation in the wake of the presenters death, has attracted more than 200,000 signatures. 0ur reporter Anna Collison is here with us now. So itv took the decision to take love island off air on saturday and sunday. That is right, they released a statement saying that after speaking with Caroline Flacks people, they felt it was too soon to broadcast it last night. They said they made the decision out of respect for her family. They said eve ryo ne respect for her family. They said everyone at itv is devastated by what has happened and that the show will return tonight, and that it will return tonight, and that it will include a tribute. Her Management Team talked about the huge pressure that Caroline Flack was under in the last few months, what were they referring to . Her very successful career had been very much in the balance in the final months of her life. The ao year old was awaiting trial accused of assaulting her boyfriend, something which she had always denied. There had been a lot of Media Attention around the trial, as you can imagine, she was a huge star, and this led to his standing down from presenting love island, the series thatis presenting love island, the series that is going out now, a huge decision for her because it was a shout she really did love. The trial was due to start in march, and she was due to start in march, and she was said to be tormented by it, so much so that friends said she feared thejury much so that friends said she feared the jury would be shown footage from Police Body Cameras which would show what happened that night, and that she was very much in distress. 0n valentines day, on friday, so much has happened in a few short days, ambulance crews were called to a house that it is believed she was living in in north east london. Then on saturday it was confirmed that caroline had died, her body found in her flat. Caroline had died, her body found in herflat. Her caroline had died, her body found in her flat. Her lawyer caroline had died, her body found in herflat. Her lawyer said caroline had died, her body found in her flat. Her lawyer said she caroline had died, her body found in herflat. Her lawyer said she had taken her own herflat. Her lawyer said she had ta ken her own life. Herflat. Her lawyer said she had taken her own life. Her Management Company have called caroline vulnerable, said she was vulnerable in the time leading up to her death and have criticised the cps for pressing ahead with what it has called a show trial, particularly as her boyfriend did not support it. The cps says it will not comment on any specific case or specific details at this stage, the inquest is expected to take place in the next few days. She herself had described love island as the best show on television. It is what most people will now have all, she did win strictly, but love island is where her heart lay, she was cheeky, flirty, she would hold contestants to account if they were rude showed disrespectful behaviour, and it is one of the biggest shows on british tv. It won a bafta in 2018, and it was caroline that went to collect the award. She was very open about the award. She was very open about the pain she felt following the death of two burqa contestants, Mike Thalassitis and sophie gradon. She said she was keen to defend the programme but it was dangerous to point the finger of blame that the issues were more complicated that one reality tv show. The programme did bring in duty of care procedures, but there are no serious questions about what will happen to the show. Might stay with us, let me introduce dr charlotte proudman, a barrister and expert in family law. Scott bryan, tv specialist, and broadcaster cally jane beech, who was in the 2015 series of love island, and tyla carr, who was in love island in 2017 and the former girlfriend of Mike Thalassitis. Welcome, all of you in search really upsetting and distressing circumstances, let me begin with you, tyla, how did you respond when you, tyla, how did you respond when you first heard the news . you, tyla, how did you respond when you first heard the news . I think there is a huge problem here with social media, and something to do with the press as well that. I think social media is the Biggest Issue here, and there is no control over what people say and what people post. And i think that there needs to be something done about it. I dont want to put it personally and carolines situation, because i dont know what his struggles were, but i do know that from seeing her instagram, there were some horrendous comments on there, and i have experienced that myself. There are death threats, i was made to feel like i was being followed at one point. It isjust feel like i was being followed at one point. It is just horrendous, and theres nothing anyone is doing about it. People say, ignore the comments, but you cantjust ignore things that are being posted on your personal instagram, you know . There has to be something more done about it. Cally jane, what did you has to be something more done about it. Callyjane, what did you think of the way Caroline Flack was treated by people on social media and also some news and show business websites . Again, just disgusting. It is really, really shocking. Just like tyla said, they really need to put something into place, especially with social media. Everybody is using it, it is very modern technology nowadays, and i think it is important that they learn from these things that is happening around the world and put in place better protection for people. I mentioned on my instagram about setting up, you know, identification when you open a profile or an account, you must have some kind of id attached to it, so you are accountable for what you say to people, and not just accountable for what you say to people, and notjust people in the public eye. We hear stories in the news, you see it on facebook all the time about younger children taking their lives from online bullying. There is also things like grooming that goes on on line, and they can just close the account, and there is 110 just close the account, and there is no traces of who has been doing what they have been doing to people online. You are right about normal people facing online bullying, but do you think there is something, when it comes to celebrities and people who are high profile the media, that they are fair game because they are the most public property . Yeah, i had a comment, actually saying exactly that to me, that, you know, you put yourself out there, so what do you expect . It doesnt make it all right be publicly bashed or brought down. I understand that people have opinions, and there is a difference between having an opinion and following somebody, and it is not evenjust a following somebody, and it is not even just a discussion following somebody, and it is not evenjust a discussion between following somebody, and it is not even just a discussion between their friends if they dont like a personal want to say something, they personally will go on to your page, they will make sure that you are going to see the nasty things that they want to say about you. Me and tyla having children, it is a different world. Charlotte proudman, Caroline Flack had been charged with assault by beating, her agent criticised the cps for carrying on with the prosecution, and you call that a show trial. Why . |j with the prosecution, and you call that a show trial. Why . I am struggling to understand why the cps brought this prosecution in the first place. It is a two stage test, on the basis of sufficient evidence and whether it is in the Public Interest to continue the prosecution. By all accounts, interest to continue the prosecution. By allaccounts, it interest to continue the prosecution. By all accounts, it was made very clear that caroline was suffering severely with the Mental Health, not only at the time of the incident but also subsequent to that, and it is likely that she became even more vulnerable and anxious as the result of the prosecution. What has also emerged is that it seems that at the time of the alleged assault caroline had also reflected quite severe wounds to her self in terms of self harming. Now, iwould like to her self in terms of self harming. Now, i would like to know from the cps how much of that was taken into account when deciding whether to prosecute her, because effectively they have victimised someone effectively they have victimised someone who was supposed to be an alleged perpetrator which is led to her death. Hang on a minute, quite a lot of things you have asserted which we do not know. We do not know if it is true that there was self harm injuries when the police turned up that night after her boyfriend called 999, we dont know that. Also, in terms of the reasons for suicide, you know that they can be complex, the samaritan say there is no simple explanation for why someone chooses to is no simple explanation for why someone chooses to die by suicide, and it is rarely due to one particular factor. I want to come back to the Public Interest test. I mean, you know the figures regarding Domestic Abuse allegations, you know what the conviction rates are compared to the number of reports that are made. Is it not in the Public Interest to investigate Domestic Abuse allegations and pursue them when there is enough evidence for a realistic chance of prosecution . Of course, it is absolutely important that all cases of Domestic Abuse are investigated. What i have said, in this case, from the information we have available to us, it is understood that she was suffering severely with her Mental Health, and my point is that the lesson we should learn from Caroline Flacks cases that were not only a complainant but also the perpetrator, as in this case allegedly, is suffering with Mental Health problems, that should be given greater weight by the cps when deciding whether to prosecute in the first place, otherwise we could end up first place, otherwise we could end up with situations like this, that is my point. Campaigner Rachel William says we cannot not prosecute alleged abusers because they might kill themselves. Yes, of course, every case needs to be considered on its own merits, but when we have someone its own merits, but when we have someone that is threatening to kill themselves, surely it is important to understand what the ramifications of that prosecution will have upon their Mental Health, and it seems to me that not enough welfare support has been provided by the Crown Prosecution Service when going through after what is an ordeal, and we must remember 3s through after what is an ordeal, and we must remember as well. Come out again, we dont know that. We must remember the cats that have been made to the criminaljustice system have been severe, and the consequence of that is the delays in bringing these cases to trial, which are anxiety inducing for anyone going through the process, compliance and defendants. Throughout the cps said they would not comment on the specifics given the tragic circumstances. Scott, from a tv point of view, which does feel parochial when we are talking about somebody taking their own life, but it is a very big decision for itv to take off two programmes and bring it back tonight. Should Love Island Continue . It is a hard question, it has been in my head continuously, because viewers will say that love island is not connected to this, you have rightly pointed out that the reasons why somebody takes their own life as a myriad of factors, and others say that it should be a tribute for caroline, but also i think many people would say it just feels too soon. People would say it just feels too soon. I feel i am in that camp, it isjust a bit soon. I feel i am in that camp, it is just a bit too soon. Soon. I feel i am in that camp, it isjust a bit too soon. I think it isjust a bit too soon. I think it is the fact that love island is such a bubbly, warm shower, such an uplifting shell, and it doesnt feel like the cultural mood where we are asa like the cultural mood where we are as a country at the moment, i think, and it is incredibly hard for the crew. Itv, Laura Whitmore speaking so crew. Itv, Laura Whitmore speaking so passionately, i hire a great recommend people watching that, to continue essentially the rest of the series when it is incredibly difficult on their Mental Health. I also want to point out that this has been really devastating news during the weekend, particularly when it is a familiar face, the weekend, particularly when it is a familiarface, and the weekend, particularly when it is a familiar face, and i want to advocate that if you have been affected by this there are many different Mental Health charities that you can reach out to, the samaritans, 116123, the bbc action line has many resources. When there are stories about Mental Health in the news like this, it is important to consider ones own. Absolutely, we will mention the action line website address in a moment. I want to ask all of you, Caroline Flacks death has been sparking this debate, we we re has been sparking this debate, we were all following it on twitter, about how toxic the public discourses around high profile people in particular, and it reminds me of exactly the same conversations had after the death of diana princess of oils. Some watching will be too young to remember that, but the same conversation about how the press treats celebrities. Diana, princess of wales. Do we need to have that conversation again . Yes, definitely, what tyla and cally have touched on is how people are feeling on social media, that the mood has become so toxic, but also there has been a discussion, in the hours after it was announced that she had sadly died, attention was turning to other celebrities, for example david walliams, who made a joke about her ata walliams, who made a joke about her at a big event, and people turned on him, started turning on him, and it isa him, started turning on him, and it is a never ending cycle of abuse. There was a lot of abuse for other high profile celebs who have criticised, you know, other celebrities in the past, and they we re celebrities in the past, and they were being targeted, so the pylon continued, didnt it . We have been having a conversation with regards to people who become very famous very quickly on reality tv shows, but now the focus is beginning to be on the presenters, broadcasters, journalists, people in the public eye presenting, whether they have the Mental Health support they need, because many of them are freelancers, going from project to project, not having anyone who they can really approach and have conversations with. I have spoken to people, who will remain anonymous, who have been going through periods of emotional instability, and they do not know who to turn to. Of emotional instability, and they do not know who to turn tolj of emotional instability, and they do not know who to turn to. I wonder ifi do not know who to turn to. I wonder if i could come back to you, tyla and cally jane, if if i could come back to you, tyla and callyjane, if i made, tyla, you used to go out with Mike Thalassitis, at one point you were on love island with both Caroline Flack and mike, and neither is here any more. I mean, that absolutely devastating. It is devastating. You know what . I suffer with Mental Health myself, and i havent been having an easy time as it is. Yes, there is help out there, but you know, as soon as i came out of love island, things got put out in the press, things were put forward in the press, and some of the things that they said were just horrendous, and even if they were justjumping on the back of a bandwagon, i think there are some things the price down to need to say. Also, back to the instagram thing, what is their responsibility . Some people do need some sort of identification, we are com pletely some sort of identification, we are completely penalised just because we put ourselves in that position, it doesnt mean we should experience that. We are, at the end of the day, human beings, just like everyone else, and we have feelings, and that just needs to be something done about it, its just not fair. Just needs to be something done about it, itsjust not fair. Thank you, all of you. Adele says, Caroline Flack took her life because of the pressure of a court case that never should have happened, as a boyfriend didnt want to go ahead with it, she thought her career would be over. One contact by e mail, really sad news to hear of Caroline Flacks death, but the comments blaming the cps are wrong, asa comments blaming the cps are wrong, as a survivor of Domestic Abuse people do not understand that even ifa people do not understand that even if a partner says they do not want a prosecution to go ahead, the state has to look at all the evidence before going ahead. Thank you, all of you, for coming on the programme, thank you for your time, thank you. Go to the bbc website, there are loads of organisations listed there who can help you. Or you can call the number that is on screen now. Coming up next, well speak to these Extraordinary People about what it means to be a young carer, as research seen by this programme reveals they spend an average of 25 hours a week looking after their loved ones. Plus. Its going underwater slowly the kitchen, living room, so. But we got the three dogs out, so that is all that matters. Its been another weekend of extreme weather with devastating winds and flooding with more heavy rain to come, well get the very latest on the severe flood warnings still in place. And what the weather is going to do in the next 2a hours. Were going to devote much of the latter part of our Programme Today to talking to children and teenagers who look after their mums, dads and sometimes their brothers and sisters too. Theyre called young carers, but that doesnt really tell you the half of it. Young carers spend an average of 25 hours a week looking after loved ones the equivalent of a £12,000 a year part time carersjob. Thats according to new research, exclusively seen by this programme, from the Charity Action for children. So why is it kids are having to do these adultjobs . Why is acceptable for a 13 year old to be administering medication for their sick parent . For a teenager to have deal with a parent having an epileptic fit . For an 11 year old to miss sometimes a quarter of her lessons in any year because she is the only one looking after her mum . Lets meet our carers. And if you are a young carer, or you are looked after by your child, please do let us know. 18 year old mya powell is from birmingham. She looks after her dad, who has a heart condition, is blind and has type 2 diabetes. About his legs had been amputated. Chloe seaman yates is 16 and from birmingham. She cares full time for her mum, who has Mental Health problems and a lung condition. She cares part time for her dad who lives away from the family and is an alcoholic. She also looks after her nine year old sister and six year old brother. Marissa salter is 11 and from st ives in cornwall. Shes the sole carer for her mum suzanna, whos 51, has serious back problems, deterioration of her lower spine and arthritis. During some of her time at Primary School, marissa has missed around a quarter of her classes because of her responsibilities as a carer. Ellessha richards is also 16 and from birmingham. She looks after her mum who has epilepsy. She has to make sure her mum takes her medication. She has to be there in case a mum has a seizure. Lynne haverson is from norfolk and is 17 years old. She helps her mum care for her younger sister who has multiple physical and learning disabilities such as epilepsy, Global Development delay and adhd, the tasks she does are mainly physical such as cooking and giving her medication. Josh is nine years old and cares for his eight year old brother who has downs syndrome. His brother is called harry. Also with us is carol iddon, deputy chief executive of action for children. Dan looks after his disabled wife and younger daughter. Sir ed davey as acting leader of the liberal democrats, he was orphaned at the age of 15 after being a young carer to his mum. Malcolm, all of you. We really wa nt to his mum. Malcolm, all of you. We really want to hear your stories. Mya, you are 18, why does your dad need to care, and what do you do for him . He is a double amputee on both legs, blind in one eye, and he suffers with a heart condition. And it can be unbearable at times to look after him. Can about what you do . Ido look after him. Can about what you do . I do all the cooking, i transcribed his post, i help with banking, shopping, and i amjust transcribed his post, i help with banking, shopping, and i am just the only one that is there for him full time, so in the night, his blood sugar, drops, i am there in case you need sugar blood sugar, drops, i am there in case you need sugar quickly, i make sure he takes his tablets, make sure he has his insulin, that he has everything he needs for that. How long have you been doing it for . have been on my own with him since i was five, i have been his full time carer since i was 11, 12. So for six or seven years . How has it impacted on your growing or seven years . How has it impacted on yourgrowing up . Or seven years . How has it impacted on your growing up . Quite massively when it has come to social circles, i have had to cancel events with friends, some of which have been planned for months, like birthday parties, because he is ill or in hospital, and maybe i am gone for a couple of hours but i need to look after him. It is also the fact that when im watching my friends in the summer, jetting abroad and that, i am sitting at home thinking, i wish that was me. You know, soaking up some sun, having a laugh, being a normal young adult, really. Some sun, having a laugh, being a normalyoung adult, really. How do you feel about talking about this to the nation . Colour it needs to be done, to be honest, and i am so happy that i can voice for some young parents who do not have a voice, and to say to any young ca re rs voice, and to say to any young carers that there is support out there. We will talk about support, because there is some support, but there is an argument that they shouldnt need to be any support, you shouldnt be doing this job. Chloe, hi, how are you . Thanks for coming on our programme. You look after your mum full time, your dad pa rt after your mum full time, your dad part time, he is an alcoholic and lives somewhere else. You look after your sister and brother as well. How is that for you . It is tiring, because i am a child, and im expected to have an education and go to school but still i am expected to be the adult in the family and help look after them. And then it isjust it is tiring, because there are times when you think you havent done enough, you feel like you have let them down, because one day you might not have done the washing up, like she was meant to. What is your routine in the morning . It is quite a rushed, because i live quite far from school, and it is normally help my brother and sister, saying my mum for a bit, then my brother and sister, saying my mum fora bit, then i have my brother and sister, saying my mum for a bit, then i have to rush to school. And a sense what age have you had to be responsible for making sure your mum gets the right medication . And what kind of medication . And what kind of medication does she need . She takes antidepressants and anxiety tablets and sometimes sleeping tablets, probably about 12 or 13 when i started helping her take them. It is a big responsibility, because if she doesnt take one, or if she misses something, or it is too late, then it is my responsibility, it is my fault. And then it is the guilt of, like, me letting her down again, like, me letting her down again, like i should have made sure she is safe. When i shouldnt have to, but it has been placed on me. You are 16 now, as i said, and i asked you if we could talk about the speech, which is coming next. When you were 13, in year nine, it all got a which is coming next. When you were 13, in year nine, it all gota bit too much for you, didnt it . Yeah. I tried to take my own life in 2018, because i had my mum and my family there, but being a carer, it felt like i was being the parent, and everyone says that when you need help, you should go to your mum. But when i was looking after her, it was like i was the mum, so i had no one to turn to, and i did feel alone, andl to turn to, and i did feel alone, and i had a lot of stress, and even the people were around me and i smiled, it was like i was screaming, and no one noticed that. My god, chloe, the way you talk about that is utterly heartbreaking, it really is. What kind of impact has being a carer had a new as an individual, as a young woman growing up individual, as a young woman growing up and also in your education . individual, as a young woman growing up and also in your education . I had a really low attendance in year nine because of what happened. They started saying they were going to find my mum and dad took a lot of stress on me and then in general, its like, the relationship i have with my brother and sister and my mum, its amazing, because im close to them. Than an average child. But it affects me because i dont get to go out as much as my friends to and i dont have the sister and brother and sister and sister relationship with them, i have more of, kind of like a co parent and it hurts because i see them, at times they are my children and that shouldnt be right, it shouldnt happen. Thank you, chloe, im going to bring josh in. How are you . Good, thanks. Thank you for coming on the programme. What is the best thing about looking after helping to look after your little brother harry. Its really fun but he always laughs and makes ita game fun but he always laughs and makes it a game so its really fun to do. What are the kind of things you do to help him every day . what are the kind of things you do to help him every day . I help mum and dad by cleaning his teeth, getting him changed, reading a book with him and i often have to chase after him before he gets to a road to stop him. Thank god you are there to stop him. Thank god you are there to stop him crossing that road i know sometimes you say people cant understand what he is saying. He has downs syndrome. What do you do when that happens . Im the only one, im basically his communicator. Because im the only one that can talk with him. Because other people are like, whats he saying and i get it right every time. What are people like at school about your brother . Some people think im a liar about the things i do. And then somejust know what i do. They are like, well done, but some are like, you are not doing it, you are a big liar. So they dont believe you have to do all the things you are doing, effectively . I feel like i havent talked to enough people on the site, im sorry, i will come back to you, honestly, but tell us about your mum and your siblings, you help look after them . My mum has epilepsy. She has pretty much had it all her life, i help out in case shes had seizures. I did used to remind her when to take a medication, thats gone down now, i dont need to remind her as much. Itsjust really dont need to remind her as much. Its just really stressful. Dont need to remind her as much. Itsjust really stressful. Because obviously, seeing your mum have a seizure, its not the best and its quite scary. I rememberthe seizure, its not the best and its quite scary. I remember the first timel quite scary. I remember the first time i saw her fit i was about, i think i was about six or seven. And it was really scary, i had no idea what to do. Its just, it was really scary, i had no idea what to do. Itsjust, you dont really know how to react to a situation like that. But now youve had to get used to it, what do you do if your mum has an epileptic seizure . Have the time i make sure shes in the right position so she doesnt choke on her tongue or anything. You put her in the recovery position . Yes. And one day i understand she had a seizure and fell down the stairs. Yes. What happened there . That was a couple of years ago. We was living in quite a small house and the stairs were narrow. It wasjust, like, iwas really shocked, i was like, should i call the ambulance, do i call my nan, what do i do . I didnt know how to react. And when you were 13 your mum was heavily pregnant. And she went into labour at home. And you delivered your mum s baby . Went into labour at home. And you delivered your mum s baby . Yes, i did. Iwas delivered your mum s baby . Yes, i did. I was in year eight at the time. Ithink did. I was in year eight at the time. I think it was about 11pm and my mum came into the living room and she says i think i am in labour and i was like 0k she says i think i am in labour and i was like ok so i had to call the ambulance. I had to get loads of blankets and everything. And i had to place them around but before the ambulance managed to arrive my little sister had already came so i had to catch, sort of my goodness. It was really scary, the whole experience, yes, i definitely dont wa nt experience, yes, i definitely dont want to be a midwife, i know that for certain can i say, year eight, its half term across much of the country, there will be 13 year olds watching you now who will be on their phone and vaguely looking up at the telly and you delivered your little sister as a 13 year old, my goodness thank goodness you were there. How much school have you had to miss because you help look after your mum . Fine, thankfully, dont missa your mum . Fine, thankfully, dont miss a lot of school, im in college now so miss a lot of school, im in college now so obviously i would say its a full timetable but i dont have five lessons every day. I have free periods. And on the thursday i dont start until 11am and on a friday i finished at 11am so it is, my timetable is quite flexible but has being a carer affected your grades . Yeah, definitely, iwould say in year 11 when i was doing my marks i was really stressed. I ended up marks i was really stressed. I ended up feeling quite a lot of them. That wasjust, i wasnt revising and i wasjust, i wasnt revising and i wasjust, i wasnt revising and i wasjust stressing myself wasjust, i wasnt revising and i was just stressing myself out and thenit was just stressing myself out and then it did get better. Sol was just stressing myself out and then it did get better. So i did end up then it did get better. So i did end up passing on my gcse s. Well done, fantastic. Let me bring even. Thank you for being so patient. You were 11. Your mum is alongside you. You are from sometimes. Let me ask you about the jobs you do in the mornings to help your mum. about the jobs you do in the mornings to help your mum. I get up andi mornings to help your mum. I get up and i get myself ready and then i will go into mum and i will help her get up and then i get her clothes for her and i normally go downstairs and climb up the counters to get bills and all of that and make brea kfast. Bills and all of that and make breakfast. And then i make sure mum is ok and everything. And i get my brea kfast is ok and everything. And i get my breakfast and i go to school and then come back and i do basically everything i can for her. How much pain is your mum in sometimes . Quite a bit, sometimes. Because sometimes she will be sat on the sofa and then she will be sat on the sofa and then she will be sat on the sofa and then she will go can you get my crotch because i cant walk properly because i cant walk properly because shes been sat in a position and its hurt her back. And i have to be there every single day. And how do you feel about that . Crutch. Sometimes it can be a little bit frustrating because i will get text from my friends, do you want to come to the cinema with me . And i have to go i cannot because i have to look after my mum. So i feel like ido to look after my mum. So i feel like i do sometimes miss out. But its ok because i know im helping someone who needs it. Have you missed much school . In my Primary School mum had to go into hospital several times. And i did miss some school then because i didnt know he was taking me and if it was my grandma she did not live close to my school, if it was my sister she did not live close to my school so i had to miss out on several days of school. Because mum was put in the hospital. And i wasnt allowed to see her because i wasnt allowed to see her because i was seven at the time or Something Like that. And i would just go to bed and i would worry and i would sit there and i would think when am i going to see my mum again . And sometimes im late to school because im helping mum. So i do miss a quarter of school. You have missed a quarter of school. You have missed a quarter of school. You have missed a quarter of lessons in your school year . Yes. Goodness. How much do you rely on your wonderful daughter, i can see you have tears in your eyes. Its really hard to hear that any child has to give up their life to look after a parent. You know . Listening to all the stories. It really pulls at your heartstrings because these are supposed to be children, they are supposed to have fun, they are not supposed to look after anybody, parent, brother, whoever it is. Its brilliant that they have got support but they should not need it, they shouldnt have to be doing the things they are doing. And its terrible, it really is awful to hear. Across the week, you get Something Like eight hours of nhs support . Eight hours. 168 hours ina of nhs support . Eight hours. 168 hours in a week and for eight of them, you get help. Thats it. Thats it. What do you think of that . Its terrible. Like i say, an illness doesnt go, you know what, im going to be ill between the hours of 8am and 5pm. You know . Literally, any child is on call or their parent or whoever it is they are looking after. I had flu on new years day. I perforated both my eardrums andl years day. I perforated both my eardrums and i went deaf and marisa slept on the sofa in my bedroom because she was so scared with the condition that i have in my lungs, i may need an ambulance so she was lacking in sleep, still going to school, very tired. She was getting told off at school because she wasnt doing her homework properly, it was rushed, and she wasnt herself. Then you have to contact the school and say, you know what, im pearly, im sorry, but my child looks after me and there is no understanding of how much a child does for their parent when they are a carer. does for their parent when they are a carer. And l. Does for their parent when they are a carer. And l. If you are missing school because you were being taken on an unauthorised holiday, or unauthorised absence, the school would probably be on you like a tonne of bricks. So i wonder what schools are like when you are missing school because you are looking after a brother or sister or mum or dad . It doesnt matter, they dont take that into consideration, it is an unauthorised absence, thats all they are interested in. Lynn, you are 17, you help your mum look after your 13 year old sister. I help my mum as well, she has fibromyalgia and sometimes her back will be really bad. Your 13yearold sister has multiple physical and learning difficulties including epilepsy, Global Development delay, alcohol fiddle syndrome and adhd. What kind of things do you do to help . I do a lot of physical care. I mainly do, i will help with washing up, i help with washing in general. Medication, my mother cannot do it. That is the big thing. The thing i do daily, i do the cooking in the house. Alcohol fatal syndrome. There are times its stressful, rewarding. Stressful always, there are times its stressful, rewarding stressful always, she has adhd like me, she can put up a fight, if she doesnt want to do something she will not do it and you have to bargain with her and she can get loud and it can get scary but ive always got to remember its not her, its how she is, she doesnt mean to be scary, just happens. But i feel like after a mean to be scary, just happens. But ifeel like after a while, mean to be scary, just happens. But i feel like after a while, you mean to be scary, just happens. But ifeel like after a while, you get used to it, youre not supposed to but i of do. I kind of get used to her anger, her outrage, how but i of do. I kind of get used to heranger, her outrage, how to handle it. What is rewarding . When she is having a good day. When we go out as a family. When we go to the beach. Those are good days, everyone is out and we are forgetting when we get home it will be when you think about your future what does it look like . I dont think i really have a future, i think i have a future but it is with my sister. I feel like im going to end up looking after her when i am older andi looking after her when i am older and i want to do things, go to university, i want to become a hairdresser but i dont feel like im going to be able to do that. My pa rents im going to be able to do that. My parents know that and i talk to my mum about it and we try and figure things out and she tells me im not going to have to always look after her but i feel thats whats going to happen, my future will be with her, not by myself doing what i want. 0k. Its really sad to hear that. I mean, of course you do incredible stuff or your sister and you help your mum. But you need to have your own life, dont you . Victoria tweets, my daughter has been a young carer since she was two yea rs old been a young carer since she was two years old when her stat was diagnosed with a rare brain condition, she lives with her own disability and is an inspiration to eve ryo ne disability and is an inspiration to everyone who knows her. Another reviewer says my daughter looks after my wife. My daughter was also diagnosed with a similar condition and its something thats completely overlooked. A disabled child is looking after a disabled mum. There are so many looking after a disabled mum. There are so many of these. Im 40, i was raised by two disabled parents, i didnt have to care for my parents in my childhood because my parents at the social care they need to be ordinary parents and for me to be an ordinary parents and for me to be an ordinary kid. I read some more in a moment. I want to bring in carol. And dan. And so it davey. He was a young carer until he was orphaned at age 15. Said davey. Young carer until he was orphaned at age 15. Said davey. What do you make of the stories . I hear these stories an awful lot, we provide services for young carers. Because they need the support and they shouldnt have to need the support. You may the point earlier, they are all too familiar. Its tragic. Its an absolute scandal. In Society Today a country such as ours, we rely on young people like this to do thejob should be rely on young people like this to do the job should be done rely on young people like this to do thejob should be done by rely on young people like this to do the job should be done by caring professionals. Thats your research out today. On average, young carers are doing 25 hours a week caring and thats the equivalent of a part time ca re rs thats the equivalent of a part time carersjob for 12 thats the equivalent of a part time carers job for 12 grand a year. Exactly. Carers job for 12 grand a year. Exa ctly. N ot carers job for 12 grand a year. Exactly. Not only are they doing 25 hours, its the point that was made, most of these will be on call 24 hours when there isnt anybody else available, they have to take responsibility for doing things. We run Carers Services stop you here about young people having to give medication, art staff are specifically trained to give medication. They are supported in the role that they did to enable them to have the skills to do it. And yet, we rely on young people, teenagers, who then have to give up their own life and education. Dan, what do you think . Absolutely correct, what we have here is a slice of what is going on behind closed doors across the country. A re ce nt closed doors across the country. A recent figure said 800,000 young ca re rs across the recent figure said 800,000 young carers across the country, rough estimate probably1 carers across the country, rough estimate probably 1 million carers across the country, rough estimate probably1 million across all of the uk and these children are providing essential services for loved ones but we are living in a society where the social care system has been absolutely gutted and totally destroyed. These children are being relied on by a system that is effectively trying not to notice the fantastic work they are doing. What we need, we need more cohesion across the board from social care services, local government, national government, even the education system, it too focused on results rather than the needs of the pupils, especially young carers. This is what i dont understand and maybe you can help, ed davey, you were in the coalition government. Under the children and families act 2014 young ca re rs children and families act 2014 young carers had the right to a carers assessment which is the duty of the local authority. This assesses the effect on the young carers well being, health, education or friendships and for that they should continue carrying out that level of care. That is clearly not happening in some cases. Its not and it needs to. The young carers Needs Assessment will pick up some of these challenges, these young people are facing and its amazing, what weve heard and they shouldnt be facing it alone or even doing they should not be facing it at all. This took me down memory lane, having lost my dad when i was working at my brother and i had to look after my mum and she was terminally ill for about three years and one was doing the cooking, giving her painkillers because she was in severe pain, taking herto the toilet, all of that sort of stuff, we got no help from social services at all. It was the neighbours who helped us, families and friends but it came down to me and friends but it came down to me and my brother. I dont know how they feel. But sometimes you felt quite lonely, you felt quite distant from your mates at school. Almost bullied, sometimes. And you couldnt do stuff, i couldnt do some of the sports because my mum needed me at home and just listening to these young people, it breaks your heart. And it means weve got to do more and the fact these Needs Assessments are taking place in some places its just outrageous. You were in the government that cut social care by hundreds of thousands of pounds, do you accept some responsibility for the cuts, the shortages, the problems . The reason we put forward this path breaking the law was to make sure future governments would have a legal obligation and i was proud that norma lam, my liberal democrat colleague from norfolk put that forward, it was a legal obligation from councils and government to provide the cash. And since 2015 we havent seen that coming through so it needs to happen so young coming through so it needs to happen so young people can get bad and the families can get that support. Norman lamb. The government says young carers should be protected from excessive care and responsibilities, we expect adults and Children Services to Work Together and take a whole family approach in identifying and supporting young carers so they can live a full life beyond their current responsibilities. Do you feel like youre living a life beyond a full life beyond your current responsible these, chloe . No way. We are told what we have to do, we are given this responsibility, we are not asked if we want it, we are not asked if we think we can handle it. Its like we do the exact same thing as people who care as a job but we dont get sick days, we dont get paid for it, we get to do it 24 7 and we are made out to be heroes but then when we need help, they just turned a heroes but then when we need help, theyjust turned a blind eye on us. If the Prime Minister was watching now, what would you say to him . would say he needs to look not just at us here today as young carers but he needs to look particularly in schools with primary and secondary schools, get teachers more equipped and better training because for me, personally, Primary School, i had very, very little support. My last two years of Primary School, i went through my stats with my dad in hospital, he came out i think two weeks before i sat my final stance and that was heartbreaking for me because i wasnt even at home. I was living elsewhere, that meant i didnt have that familiarity with home that i was used to. And i was worrying about dad, i was constantly worrying, thinking, god, is he 0k because as much as hospitals are amazing, weve seen with the nhs in general, doctors and nurses, and i am thinking is he being looked after, what is going on . Carroll, what has to change . We are calling on the government to produce a National Childhood strategy which means that cohesion, that coordinated approach can be taken across not just coordinated approach can be taken across notjust social care about education, health and actually, start to think about how we ensure that children have a safe and happy childhood. Im going to thank you all so much, youve made a massive effort to get here and im really, really grateful. You had a massive impact on our audience around the country so im gratefulfor impact on our audience around the country so im grateful for that. Lets see if we cant get something changed. Well done, all of you, thank you, thank you all of you and thank you, thank you all of you and thank you, thank you all of you and thank you for coming on the programme. And our actionline website is gfx bbc. Co. Uk actionline if you need help there are loads of organisations listed there who you can contact. For many of us, its been another weekend of misery and devastation as storm dennis blasted its way across the country dumping more than a months worth of rain in some areas. More than 200 flood warnings are still in place, including five severe warnings in england, which means there is a danger to life. Major incidents were declared in south wales and parts of england yesterday. With me now is the bbc weather presenter nick miller. Good morning to you. What is still to come . I would love to be able to say to you we are in for a spell of quiet unsettled weather dominated by High Pressure but im not in a position to say that. Clearly weve had some really horrible weather, two weekends in a row, some spots in south wales had over 150 millimetres of rain in 48 hours, huge amount of rain, significant, horrible impact in terms of flooding. What we are looking at is some showers for the next couple of days. Thats not going to be delivering the huge amount of rain we have seen but still quick bursts of heavy rain. Later in the week we expect different areas of low pressure to come into the uk from the atlantic with spills of wind and rain. They may not deliver the huge totals that wed seen but we know the ground is saturated, the rivers are so high, some at record levels, it doesnt need much more rain to keep them up at the level they are or to bring further problems in the uk if the rain hits different areas. 0ther weather systems coming in this way, impacting different parts of the uk but anybody in these areas, concerned about flooding, who have flooding now or have had flooding in the past cubicles eye on the forecast. How much better, forecasting has been pretty amazing, it has to be said. How much better is it going to get with this new billion pound supercomputer at the met office that many of us will have been reading about this morning . Big weather systems like storm ciara, storm dennis are flagged up pretty well by the models and predictions well by the models and predictions we have at the moment, several days out we had warnings for storm dennis but if you put more effort into these computers, the hardware and all that sort of stuff, they are able to make better calculations further into the future, take more observations from the atmosphere and put them into the equations that churn out the forecast, if you increase the hardware with all of that you can come up with not only better predictions for further into the future but you can narrow down the future but you can narrow down the areas as well, the smaller and smaller areas that have been forecast. At the moment you can maybe forecast or put something in for a kilometre and a half or Something Like that but you get to maybe with the supercomputer and the investment, a few hundred metres, the difference between one side of your town seeing a heavy shower and thunderstorm, the other side staying dry. A lot of people will say it rained down the road but not for i am. We will get better at saying specifically it will rain here but also how much rain will come and predict better for the future as well. Better modelling for Climate Change and then we can take better action to prepare for what may happen in the future. Brilliant, thank you so much. Thank you for your messages about those incredible young people, kids and teenagers who look after various members of their families in some quite difficult circumstances. 0ne families in some quite difficult circumstances. One theory says young ca re rs circumstances. One theory says young carers to a fantasticjob, it says something about our social care system in this country when young people have to take on this type of role, its shocking, im a care of myself, looking after my disabled partner. I work around the clock, seven partner. I work around the clock, seven days a week, on a carers allowa nce, seven days a week, on a carers allowance, 66 quid a week is nothing to live on. 0scar is to a greatjob and this care crisis could be solved overnight if the government gave ca re rs overnight if the government gave carers a proper living wage. I looked after my mum from the age of seven, looked after my mum from the age of seven, my looked after my mum from the age of seven, my dad walked out when i was four and her illness was just showing. She has dystonia, n e, broken back and non epileptic fits, there were days she couldnt get out of bed and i had to care for her and my sister during the days that were her worst. I used to take over the role of parent, it was difficult. But she couldnt move. She always dry to make the effort and take over at the parenting room, take us for days out and treat us but we knew there was a chance that could change within seconds. I mean, ive got so many of these, i will put some on twitter because you know, i want to do them justice and im really grateful youve got in touch today so grateful youve got in touch today so thank you. We are back tomorrow at10am. So thank you. We are back tomorrow at 10am. Thanks for your company. Good morning. Storm dennis moving away but the river is responding to all the rainfall we had over the weekend, rant about 260 flood warnings in force, five of them severe at the moment. The numbers changing all the while but flood risk continues, through today and into tomorrow as well. Weather wise its a little bit than it has been over the weekend, dry and sunny weather, heavy showers moving away from west ivan east, scotland sees showers, as does northern ireland. Maximum temperature is 8 11d. Snow and ice across scotland tonight, for snow showers moving in, clear spells elsewhere, temperatures between 13d, elsewhere, temperatures between 1 3d, throughout tuesday, more showers in the forecast, some quite heavy, prolonged at times, a band of rain moving south and east. Breezy again. Temperature 6 11dc. Goodbye. Youre watching bbc newsroom live its11am and these are the main stories this morning. Hundreds of flood warnings remain in place across the uk a woman is believed to have died in floodwaters in worcestershire. Love island will air for the first time tonight following the death of its former host Caroline Flack. If a further 99 people have tested positive for coronavirus on a cruise ship off the coast ofjapan 78 british passengers and crew remain in quarantine on board. Amazon is forced to withdraw unsafe car seats from its website after a bbc investigation finds multiple non compliant products for sale. Coming up as a leading Cancer Charity calls for a ban on sunbeds we hearfrom one woman who lost her ear to her