By Jane Elliott BBC News Online health staff

Lesley relies on her boys

Washing, cleaning, helping around the house and caring for younger siblings, the children take on the unpaid role of carer.

Jonathan and Christopher Williams help their mother Lesley, who has had multiple sclerosis for the last 18 years.

Many young carers in our society don't even realise they are doing anything out of the ordinary. Charmaine Palmer-Broome

Lesley admits that without the help of her 12 and 10-year-old sons she would probably not be able to remain at home.

"They are ever so good. They make their beds, they help me with my medication and they make my life much easier.

"They do things like take the plastic bin out of the dustbin. I just can't do it I am not strong enough.

"They are more mature than many boys their age.

"They do have their up and down days, but most of the time they want to help. I am very proud of them."

Lack of energy

Lesley gets easily tired, forgets her medication and finds it impossible to keep up with the housework.

Although she has someone to help with the ironing this is not enough, especially as her husband is currently ill with gout.

"I am on beta-interferon and I am sure that is what has kept me out of a wheelchair.

"My immune system is bad and so is my memory, the boys have to prompt me to take my drugs.

"When I go out sometime I can't balance myself and they have to come out with me to be my props.

"I am constantly tired and I am getting worse I have not got the strength."

But Lesley worries that the work-load is too much for her young sons.

"I worry that it is too much for them, but they are wonderful. They can cook, make pancakes and everything."

Badly needed support

Children like Christopher and Dean are part of a hidden army of carers whose work saves the Treasury an estimated �57bn a year.

But who cares for the children?

The Barnardo's charity runs the Indigo Project Young Carers Service, based in Ilford, in Essex near to where the Williams family live. It offers individual and group support to child carers.

It ensures that the children get support and help to ensure their development is not adversely affected by their role as carer.

As well as help and advice the children are also given help with homework and computer loan.

Importantly, the club also puts a bit of well deserved fun into their lives taking them on trips, as well as giving them a place to meet.

Lesley said: "The boys go with other children who have parents with disabilities. One has arthritis and another is partially blind. They can get together and have time to relax and chill out.

"They can go to Barnardo's and play football and do all the sort of things that I can't do with them.

"They went to see the Queen and they have been taken to theatres and they get treats there."

Chance to relax

We know that if we are tired then mum is twice as tired. Jonathan Williams

Christopher explained that helping his mother was just something he needed to do.

"We help her take her tablets and we help her load the washing machine and tidy up."

He said the Indigo Project was somewhere to go for fun.

"We play snooker, music and the piano. We can play on the internet there and table football. It is a good idea.

"There is nothing else to do after school. It is just things like homework, tidying up ."

Jonathan agreed: "I enjoy going to see friends and play games we go there to forget and have fun.

"We have no option so we have to help mum. We know that if we are tired then mum is twice as tired."

Natural feeling

Project worker, Charmaine Palmer-Broome said children like Jonathan and Christopher often do not realise how exceptional they are.

"Many young carers in our society don't even realise they are doing anything out of the ordinary.

"If mum or dad need caring for, the young people feel it's natural to take on that responsibility.

"Our service acknowledges that we can't completely take away that caring role, but we can lighten the load and provide support for the young carers and in doing so, the family unit as a whole."

And she said it was important to ensure that there was something available to ensure they get all the help and fun possible.

"Help such as, homework that they might have fallen behind in due to caring, or providing information on other services they may be able to access for further help, a befriending scheme and even leisure time with peers - time when they can just enjoy themselves without having to worry about their responsibilities."

Demanding role

Joanna Ridley, carers programme manager at the Multiple Sclerosis Society, said: "Because MS typically strikes in the prime of life, thousands of children like Christopher and Jonathan find themselves caring for their mum or dad.

"We are full of admiration for all they do but know only too well how demanding these extra responsibilities can be.

"For some it means they can't take part in everyday activities of childhood like going on school trips.

The charity runs the MS Young Carers Fund which provides grants to help child carers achieve their goals.