ISOBEL Mellor-Keating may still be a teenager but she’s already making a huge difference to the young lives she touches.

The 19-year-old, from Royston, works full-time at Greenacre School as a teaching assistant having gained her level three health and social care qualification but her caring responsibilities don’t end there.

After work and at weekends Isobel is a vital support for mum Rachel Paterson who has nominated her for a Proud of Barnsley award.

“Isobel has been my son’s PA/carer since October 2024 and she has provided us as a family with support that goes above and beyond her role.

“My son has complex needs a chromosome disorder, congenital heart disease and is autistic.

“He needs help with all aspects of personal care throughout the day and night and Isobel can’t help him enough.

“She cares for him like he’s her own and he is so happy to have found someone he’s grown exceptionally close to who loves him for who he is.

“Despite her young age, when she is with Thomas her whole focus is on him and what is best for him.

“She takes him out regularly to parks, on trains and buses, soft play, for dinner. She has made every effort to know what Thomas likes and what he dislikes.

“Thomas is non-verbal and quite often displays challenging behaviours that are borne out of a frustration to be able to communicate but for Isobel this is not seen as a barrier, it is something to work with.

“For us as a family, we have two boys with the same complex needs albeit a very different degree of presentation and a little girl who has just started school.

“Having Isobel support Thomas while also maintain a full-time position at a local specialist school has been life changing.

“She accompanies us on days out so we can be together as a whole family, she takes Thomas out one-to-one and he always comes home smiling; she recently has also spent some time caring for Thomas day and night so that as a family we were able to take our children on holiday in the knowledge that Thomas was safe and happy and well cared for.”

But Isobel plays down the amazing support she gives to the family despite having a full-time job too: “I love what I do I could never decide whether I wanted to be a teacher or a paediatric nurse and what I am doing now gives me the best of both worlds.

“I like to be busy and because I am still living with my mum and dad I can do what I do, it is so rewarding.

“I’m also doing a university course so there’s always something going on.

“When I heard about Rachel’s nomination I thought it was so lovely to feel that appreciated and see how much of an impact I am having on the family.”

Rachel added: “She is an absolute credit to her mum and her family and I don’t know where we would be without the support of this young lady.

“She is truly amazing and also a credit to her specialist school.”