Meet the project team | Carersconnected

Meet Our Team

Our amazing Youth Participation Project Team

Welcome to our incredible team of volunteers dedicated to empowering youth through this Youth Participation Project which is funded by Leargas The National Agency. Our passionate group is committed to creating impactful experiences that inspire and engage young individuals in their communities. Together, we strive to ensure that the young people feel safe, valued and respected. We aim to make a positive difference in the lives of young carers and young adult carers.

Project Lead

Shannika is a student studying Applied Social Studies. She was the project lead on a European Solidarity Corps throughout 2025 which was titled CarersConnect. This project was aimed to spread awareness regarding the term young carer and aimed to build a support network for the young people. Shannika has volunteered with Family Carers Ireland and is now CAIM Empowers Irish Programme Manager. Shannika has completed many training activities and her skills are demonstrated through any work she completes.

Co-Project Lead

Saoirse is a student at UCD studying History and Sociology. She is a Young Carer to her 2 younger siblings who are
Autistic. Due to the way her brothers autism presents he has been very violent at home for several years, and because of
this Saoirse advocates with the Ombudsman for Children and a member of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
committee to seek recognition and support for young carers with lived experience of domestic violence from a person they
care for.

Leah Magrone

Leah is a student of business and languages at UCC in her third year in her course. Leah is passionate about learning languages and creative hobbies. She hopes to find a way to pursue this as a career or passion project. Leah was the project lead on an European Soldarity Corps Project titled Neurodiversity connects project in 2025. As a carer she looked after her younger brother (3 years younger) during her move to Ireland and during Covid.

Frida Gurn

Frida is studying computer science at DCU and is very strong in tech skills, she will be responsible for building and
managing the Carers Connect online website/portal where much of our project will be run, so that we can reach people all
around Ireland (and hopefully internationally as the project develops) computer science student. Frida has a 10 year old
Foster Sibling, so she has had extra caregiver responsibilities at home and understands the role of a young carer.

Bridget

Bridget is 18 years old. She is a 6th year student and is doing her leaving cert this year. Bridget is a young carer and she is the leader on the dramatisation for the National Young Carers Conference. Bridget has a great interest in drama and theatre and she loves being on stage.

Christopher Greene

Christopher is 14 years old, he is a young carer to his sibling who is non-verbal autistic. Christopher really enjoys singing and Irish Dancing. He is apart of Conhairle Na Nog in Roscommon. Christopher has an ambition to study law. He loves to help others wherever and whenever needed. .