Olly Williams

Olly is a young boy, aged 8, from Newport, Gwent who is actively involved in caring for his sisters each of whom have complex additional needs. He demonstrates a level of kindness and compassion uncommon for his age.

Olly cares for two older sisters and one younger sister all of whom have complex physical impairments and learning disabilities which require constant supervision. Olly also cared for a younger sister who sadly died last year, suddenly and unexpectedly just before her second birthday.

Despite his family's recent loss, Olly remains committed to his responsibilities towards his sisters and parents. He shows dedication to his family under challenging emotional conditions and continues to focus on his schooling and friendships while fulfilling an important role as a caregiver within his family.

Olly spends a lot of time with his sisters and understands their individual needs really well and ensures that professionals caring for them are well-informed. He shows carers how to engage and play with the girls, each of whom is nonverbal and struggle to communicate.

To some extent Olly’s own needs have had to come second to those of his sisters and he copes with this with remarkable resilience and a level of maturity that belies his age. He is a truly remarkable young person who is caring, sensitive and empathetic, and who has maintained these qualities despite being a sibling of disabled children, a carer and recently experiencing a devastating bereavement.