Local MP Mary Macleod met with the Diana Courageous Citizen Award winner, Barry Smart, at Isleworth and Syon School last week. The fourteen year old won the prize in recognition of the care and support that he has given to his younger sister, Natalie, who has cerebral palsy and other severe medical needs. 

Mary commented, “I am really pleased that Barry has won a Diana Award and it has been a real pleasure to meet him at Isleworth and Syon School. Though only being fourteen years old he has done a truly incredible job caring for his sister. He is an amazing inspiration to all who meet him, showing true love and dedication to his sister and spending so much time doing all he can for her. Even at the age of fourteen, he already is making an incredible difference to his family and community. It is young people like this, who should be applauded and recognised by society for the exceptional work they do."

The Diana Awards were founded in 1999 to act as a lasting legacy to Princess Diana’s belief in the power of young people to change the world.

So far they have given 36,000 young people from across the UK special recognition through their award schemes. Mary added, “There are young people up and down my constituency, who are caring for loved ones in the most trying of circumstances. These stories often go untold, so I am glad that someone like Barry has been recognised for the work he does to support his mum and sister day after day. Barry told me how he now wants to start fundraising in order to buy his sister a more modern mobility chair that would better suit her needs. I wish him the best of luck and am confident that he will be successful.”