AN INSPIRATIONAL woman dedicated to supporting York children who act as unpaid carers for members of their family has won an international award.

Sharron Smith, who runs York Young Carers, will be presented with the Yorkshire Region Award at next week’s International Service Human Rights Awards at York Minster.

She will stand alongside winners from Ecuador, Uganda, Cameroon and Somaliland – who are all working to build a more equal world.

Sharron, who lives in Copmanthorpe, has spent the past ten years supporting young people in York aged eight to 18 who care for a family member at home. She was nominated for the award by Linda Stubbs, manager of the Carers Centre in Priory Street, who described Sharron as “an amazing person”.

Linda said: “She has pretty much built up the young carers’ service from scratch. She’s an inspiration to the people who work with her and to the young carers themselves.

“I have never met someone who is so passionate about her work. She is always the first person in and the last person out.

“Nothing is ever too much trouble for her and she always has lots of great ideas.”

York Young Carers provides one-to-one support, trips and activities to enable the young people to have a break from caring, and support groups where advice, fun and friendship are all on the agenda. Sharron and her team recognise that young carers are children first and foremost and they work to make sure they don’t feel isolated.

Against the odds, many of the young carers are supported into employment or university, making a difference to their future lives.

In York, there are more than 400 young people looking after family members who have an illness, disability or mental health problem. The awards ceremony at York Minster will take place on Tuesday and will be compered by BBC presenter Harry Gration.