A YOUNG carer from Camelford has been presented with a prestigious award at a ceremony hosted by popular Cornish radio channel, Pirate FM.

Sixteen-year-old Livvy Ferguson was presented with the ‘Carer of the Year’ award during Pirate FM’s ‘local heroes’ awards ceremony held at Tregenna Castle in St Ives on Friday, April 5.

Livvy was nominated by her mum, Kirsty Ferguson, who was keen to see her daughter recognised for all she does for her every day.

Kirsty, former mayor of Camelford, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2010, with Livvy becoming a young carer at the age of eight. In an emotional video on Pirate FM’s website, Livvy explained what it means to be a young carer, reflecting on a time when Kirsty was in a lot of pain one Christmas eve and the paramedics had to provide her with morphine, and feeling ‘helpless’.

She explains in the video that her role as a carer started with ‘little things’ like ironing, dishing up evening meals and helping her mum with her medication if she needed it. However, now Livvy takes on more of a responsibility, cleaning the house, cooking meals and helping Kirsty when she’s having a bad day, all the while balancing schoolwork, a social life and her award-winning blog, The Odd Pigeon.

“When I first became a carer, I thought that I would live in Cornwall my whole life, never be able to get a job or have a family,” she said during the video. However, after receiving counselling, she realised her role as a young carer does not limit her ‘possibilities and ambitions’.

On April 5, Livvy attended the awards ceremony at the magnificent Tregenna Castle with Kirsty, boyfriend Kieran and her grandad, Graham, where she received the ‘Carer of the Year’ award.

Speaking about the event, Livvy told the Post: “The awards ceremony was stunning, and the location was incredible. We were welcomed and spoken to by all the Pirate FM team, photos were taken and the food was incredible.

“I was overwhelmed when I found out I’d won the award, as I didn’t expect it, and having to keep it quiet for so long was difficult, to say the least. I was fairly far into the ceremony, which helped me to see how it all worked, and with the support of my loved ones, it helped me to feel so much less anxious!”

Mum Kirsty, who announced her resignation as mayor of Camelford in March, nominated her daughter so she could receive some well-deserved recognition.

She said: “I was absolutely thrilled to hear that Olivia’s nomination had been successful, and although it wasn’t for the category I had nominated her for, the judging panel unanimously felt that she should receive the carer of the year award.

“Holly Day from Pirate FM contacted both Olivia and I to congratulate us and invite us to the award ceremony at Tregenna Castle in St Ives. It was a beautiful evening, filled with inspirational people from throughout Cornwall. We were served a tremendous three-course meal, followed by the awards and the evening ending with superb entertainment from Johnny Cowling.”

Kirsty added: “I am the proudest mum of everything Olivia does to make my life easier, but also how she is happy to talk to any young carer in a similar situation and who is finding things difficult. I would personally like to thank Pirate FM and Able Care, who sponsored Olivia’s award, for looking after us so well that evening.”