Fifteen-year-old Natasha Hughes, from Mold, is a vital support to mum Andrea.

Natasha has been helping to care for Andrea, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, since she was six, supporting her through several operations and the effects of the disabling illness. Natasha also has caring responsibilities for her brother, who has learning difficulties.

Tonight, her achievements will be recognised when she is the focus of BBC documentary Somebody's Child, a series highlighting the work of children's charity Barnardo's Cymru.

The programme will follow Natasha's life at home, and how her caring responsibilities have an impact on her as she nears adulthood.

Natasha fits caring around attending school, and she has been supported by Barnardo's Cymru Flintshire Young Carers for the past three years.

Andrea said: "Natasha is a very independent and incredibly strong. When times have been hard, it has been the strength of Natasha, and the power of the family unit that has kept us together.

"Natasha has been helping to care for me since she was six years old.

"When my condition meant I was unable to do everything myself, even down to taking lids off medicine bottles, Natasha has been there."

For many years, Natasha's daily routine has included running the household, and completing the chores of sorting breakfast for her mother, brother and herself, cleaning, cooking evening meals, washing and ironing, as well as supporting her mother day to day.

Andrea said: "She knows everything, she's like a mother herself. She knows how to budget, can pay bills and helps me with my son, wakes him up and gets him to school, and does things with him that I would do, like watching him play sport.

"Natasha is very mature. She's not only my daughter but my best friend.

"I feel she has given up a lot for me, and that's where the support from Flintshire Young Carers has been fantastic. Natasha has really benefited from the one to one work which her support worker, Cate, has done with her. It has helped her to realise she is not on her own.

"When she was younger it was harder for Natasha's friends to understand about her being a carer. But Flintshire Young Carers let her meet other young people who had something in common. It's like another family – they meet up together outside of the group and keep in touch with texts. No-one judges each other there."

Andrea is hoping their story may help others in a similar situation.

She said: "We don't want sympathy for our situation, we just want understanding. I hope that our story will give others the strength to come forward, and not to stay silent."

Natasha said: "What I do for my mum depends on how well she is. If she's not well I'll need to do more, like take the lid off medicine or shampoo, and do more things like that. I help her out of bed and to get downstairs, cook meals, do the washing and the ironing.

"Sometimes when she's stronger she will cook, but the pans are too heavy for her to move, so I'll help her. I'm never far away – if she needs me I'll be there.

"Someone suggested me and my brother should try going to Barnardo's Young Carers.

"I have made some really good friends through the group. Although I was nervous and didn't know what to expect before I went, it's been really good.

"We go on trips together as a group and do lots of fun things in the holidays which we otherwise wouldn't be able to do. But what is really good is knowing you're not on your own with your situation – not problems, I wouldn't call them problems, because they're not.

"It's good to have friends that share an understanding, because often people don't really know about caring. As friends we all look out for each other and take care of each other.

Modest Natasha was keen to praise emotional support she gets from her one-to-one sessions with staff at Flintshire Young Carers.

She said: "It's also really good to have an adult you can speak to, who isn't in your family. I've found that support great. My mum always encourages me to do my best at school and get my homework done, and I try hard. It's not always easy though, especially when mum's been in hospital or needs more help.

"Quite often I have to fit it in around what's going on at home. It's good to know that I can talk to Cate, my project worker, if I'm worrying about it, and also to know someone can help me to speak to school and explain how things are, if I wanted to."

- Somebody's Child will be on BBC Wales tonight at 10.35.