I spend around six hours a week volunteering with NEWCIS, which provides information for carers on issues which affect them. Often carers don't have time to research complex topics like changes to benefits. We make this information available to them through a bi-monthly newsletter.

When I was a carer I received this newsletter myself and found it very helpful. Having been a carer I realise what other carers need and know how they feel. When you say you're a carer people often think it's a paid job. In actual fact most carers aren't paid but give up their lives to care for relatives or friends at home. Carers rarely get a break and find it difficult to switch off. They're terrified of becoming ill themselves in case that means they're unable to look after the person they're caring for.

The newsletter aims to provide information to make carers' lives easier. Carers don't always think of themselves as carers but just as family or a friend of the person they're caring for. Because of this they often don't get the benefits or help which they're entitled to. We aim to reach out to these hidden carers and ensure that they're aware of the help available to them.

I've found that volunteering with NEWCIS has helped bring me back into the world. Being a carer can be quite isolating. Volunteering has helped me to feel part of things, not just on the sidelines, and I've met lots of people who I wouldn't have got to know otherwise. It's good to be able to give something back to an organisation which helped me and which does such valuable work.