CARING for their older sister Charlotte comes naturally to Joe and Rupert Civil.

Neither boy feels any resentment about helping their mother, Michelle, to care for 15-year-old Charlotte, who is severely disabled.

"I do it because I love Charlotte and my mum," said ten-year-old Rupert. Joe, 14, explained that their support included keeping an eye on their sister, who has cerebral palsy and is deaf, for their mum.

"If I had been here on my own with Charlotte there wouldn't have been much normality," said Michelle. "They help and don't even realise they are doing it."

Although having a disabled child in the house can sometimes limit what they can do as a family, she felt it also had a positive effect on the boys. "Because they have been brought up with a sister who is so disabled they are compassionate and understanding. They just accept people for what they are."

Both boys were members of Newport Young Carers and Michelle praised the group's work with youngsters like Joe and Rupert.

"We're not always able to go to certain places because of Charlotte, but the boys need to go out," she said.

Young Carers arranges trips and activities which the boys have both enjoyed.

"We go out to places and we've been horse-riding," said Rupert. Michelle said her sons helped as a matter of course and did not think of themselves as special - but, like all the other young carers, they most certainly are.