Highland Hero winner reflects on being awarded carer of the year

Louise Borland reflects on what it was like to win carer of the year at the Highland Hero Awards, 2022.

Transcript

00:00 My name is Louise Borland and I won Care of the Year Highland Hero Award.

00:06 I was nominated by a wee boy that I look after his family.

00:12 When they see it as a job, me and Sam are like, well I call him a little bestie.

00:18 So we just have fun together. It's very rewarding.

00:23 Yay!

00:25 Is that good?

00:29 I think I've been lucky. I've not really had many, many challenges with Sam.

00:34 In the beginning, getting to know him and what needs he has and medication and things like that was a bit of a challenge.

00:43 He doesn't communicate verbally. He'll soon tell you if he's not happy about something or if he is happy about something.

00:52 So that can sometimes be a wee bit tricky. But I've been with Sam now over two years, so I kind of know roughly,

00:59 you know, with the signs that he's got, what's going on for him.

01:05 Gosh, you've got a lot to say today, don't you?

01:17 After Covid, well during Covid I'd applied for my nursing and started working in a respite centre for children with additional needs.

01:27 And while there, another one of the carers was friends with Sam's mum.

01:33 And they were looking for someone and just asked if I was interested.

01:37 Just knowing that I'm helping in some way for like mum and dad being able to have a bit of time to themselves,

01:45 although they've got two other children as well.

01:47 Just giving them some support and when Sam smiles, when you know he's having a good time, that's the best.

01:57 Another drum!

01:59 [Music]