Sue cares for her son George, who has autism, learning disabilities and oral dyspraxia. Even before her son was born, she was interested in working to support children and adults with additional needs and those navigating difficult circumstances. She joined the Carers First team in 2025 and has been passionate about reaching the LGBTQI+ community with the hope that sharing her own story of being an LGBTQI+ carer will enable others to feel safe and reassured that they will get the support they deserve.
“I started my career in early years education working in Local Authority nursery schools. Even before my son was born, I was interested in how to work in a way that included all children. This may be because I had a difficult education myself due to then undiagnosed dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD.
I had my son George within a lesbian relationship. I knew when George was 8 months old that he was developing differently from his peers. By the age of four, George had a diagnosis of autism, learning disabilities and oral dyspraxia.
It was and still is a constant battle to get his needs understood and met. I felt very isolated and alone. My then partner and I experienced hostility from medical practitioners.
I became a single parent when George was 4 years old.
My career developed into a role as an Inclusion Outreach Worker, supporting early years settings in good inclusive practice. From there, I went into freelance inclusion training while working around my caring role for George.”
Sue talks about how connecting the LGBTQI+ community to the support they can receive as carers has been incredibly important to her, in all the time she has worked with carers:
“I am passionate about reaching the LGBTQI+ community. In my group of friends from the community, all at one time or another have cared for a family member. It surprises me that in my 10 years of working with carers, I have only knowingly supported three carers from the LGBTQI community.
I took a career break when George transitioned to secondary school. He was forever being excluded. I needed to be on hand to support him. I then met my partner Gail in 2009. She and George have grown to have a wonderful relationship. I appreciate her love and dedication to us both.
What saw me through the stress and anxiety of my life was years of counselling. I became fascinated in the process and started studying for a master’s degree in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. I graduated in 2012 and after doing voluntary work I started private practice in 2016 alongside working for an organisation called Parents in Partnership providing advocacy for parent carers.
In 2019 my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. I have an element of a caring role for her, and I am grateful to my siblings for taking on the bulk of responsibility and care.
I moved to work with the Carers Information Service. In 2025 I started to work for Carers First.
I have found as an employer, Carers First has been very supportive of my caring roles, and I have been able to work flexibly to accommodate them. I have also been impressed at how my neurodiversity has been met with positivity and that there is support when needed.
My hope is that by sharing my story, carers from the community will feel reassured that they will get the support that they deserve. Our aim at Carers First is for all carers to feel comfortable registering for support, engaging in activities and requesting a Statutory Carers Assessment.”
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