Martin Kennedy, 16, lives in Prescot with his father Geoff and his mum Kay who has Multiple Sclerosis and Epilepsy. He attends Prescot High School, where he is studying for his GCSEs, but in his own time he is on hand to help his Dad with Kay’s care

Vicky Bilsborough, manager at the Young Carers Project said: “It’s fantastic that the caring Martin does for his mum has been recognised by this award. He is a credit to both his parents. All of the young carers we work with are incredible people who care for others, sometimes in difficult circumstances, without complaint.”

A SENSATIONAL performance by 15-year-old Ben at the National DSE Open short course swimming championships saw him leave Sheffield with nine medals. The Huyton youngster, who has only been swimming for six years, showed his versatility with seven individual medals at a variety of distances – 50m freestyle (silver), 100m freestyle (bronze), 400m freestyle (bronze), 50m backstroke (silver), 100m backstroke (silver), 100m IM (silver), 200m IM (silver). To complete a fine weekend for the Prescot HS student, he also achieved gold in the 400m medley relay and a silver in the 400m freestyle relay. Ben, who has dyspraxia, a condition that directly affects co-ordination, recorded best times in each of the events he was successful. Ben trains five nights a week.