Being a young carer for a dying parent

Added 12/02/2026

Podcast / Story

Being a young carer for a dying parent | S4 07

Toby (20) and Iman (24) were both young carers for their dads from childhood into their teens and discuss the responsibilities of caring for a seriously ill parent. In this episode, they explore their different grief journeys but also find plenty of common ground. The conversation covers the impact on their childhoods, grieving while someone is alive, and feelings of both relief and guilt when they die.

Content warning: chronic illness, kidney failure, suicide, grief, death

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This episode was recorded over Zoom.

This podcast is brought to you by Talk Grief powered by Winston’s Wish, the UK’s first children and young people’s bereavement charity.

Created by the Winston’s Wish Youth Team

Produced and Edited by Jess, Winston’s Wish

Talk Grief is powered by Winston’s Wish, a childhood bereavement charity that supports grieving children and young people up to 25. If you want to talk to someone about your grief, call us on 08088 020 021 (open 8am-8pm, weekdays), email ask@winstonswish.org, use our online chat (open 8am-8pm, weekdays) or text or WhatsApp us on 07418 341 800 (open 8am-8pm, weekdays). You must be 13 or older to receive support via WhatsApp. For urgent support in a crisis, please call 999.

Being a young carer for a dying parent | S4 07

Grieving at school: an open teacher-student conversation | S4 06

Grieving at Christmas: How young people navigate the festive season | S4 05

Milestones, anger, and grieving as a young man | S4 04

Why grief support in education needs to change | S4 03

Grieving and discovering your LGBTQ+ identity | S4 02

Planning dad's funeral, grief at school, and dead dad jokes | S4 EP 01

How to support grieving young people with chronic illnesses | S3 EP 11

Grieving with a chronic illness - with guests from Teapot Trust | S3 EP 10

Grieving as a young Black woman | S3 EP 9

How Dad’s sudden death shaped our futures | S3 EP 8

Cancer: before, during and after a bereavement | S3 EP 7

Grief FAQs – young adult experiences | S3 EP 6

ADHD, grief, and the fear of forgetting | S3 EP 5

Alcoholism, addiction, and teen grief | S3 Ep 4

Grieving for a sister, travelling, and finding yourself | S3 Ep 3

Young men grieve too - with Alfie Watts | S3 Ep 2

New Year, same grief, more seasoned | S3 Ep 1

If We Don't Laugh, We'll Grieve in Common | S2 BONUS

Jealousy, what ifs, and growing up grieving | S2 09

Expectations, triggers, and representation of grief in the media | S2 10

Navigating adulthood as grieving young people | S2 08

Getting real with mum: grieving before dad died | S2 07

Dad’s suicide - open mother-daughter conversations | S2 06

Birthdays, anniversaries, and firsts without dad | S2 05

Death, dating and stepparents - experiences after a parent dies | S2 04

How to talk about grief – advice from a Bereavement Support Worker | S2 03

Remembering your person through the waves of grief | S2 02

Growing up with grief and how it shapes young people | S2 01

How do you cope with grief at Christmas? | SPECIAL

Is it okay to feel hope when you’re grieving? | 11

How does grief affect going travelling? | 10

How do you deal with grief at school? | 09

How can grief affect relationships? | 08

Is it okay to laugh about your grief? | 07

How do you deal with grief at university? | 06

What is grief OCD? | BONUS

Can grief cause anxiety? | 05

How do you tell friends you’re grieving? | 04

Do you ever get over grief? | 03

Why is it taboo to talk about grief? | 02

Can you grieve for someone you’ve never met? | 01