The Govanhill teenager helps care for his 57-year-old dad John, who has dementia, and he knows how important it is to take a break.

Now in its fifth year, the Scottish Youth Carers Festival, being held later this month, is set to be the biggest yet, with an extra day of activities added and more than 700 young people aged nine to 19 expected on site at the Broomlee Outdoor Education Centre in West Linton, in the Scottish Borders.

This will be Leo's fourth festival and he can't wait.

He said: "The extra day is going to make the weekend much more enjoyable, it's a dream.

"I take part in activities such as rock climbing, art workshops and games.

"The greatest part for me is getting to meet new people and the other young carers."

Leo's father had been a firefighter for 30 years before he fell ill in 2003.

He was initially signed off from work with depression after suffering two bereavements, but his wife Gayle felt something wasn't quite right.

"His behaviour changed," she said.

"There was confusion with handling money and he would put things in odd places, like the coffee in the fridge for example.

"I kept asking him to go back to the doctor, but being a man, he didn't want to discuss it."

Eventually Gayle, 49, persuaded John to see his GP, who referred him to a clinic for Parkinson's disease, but she still felt something was wrong.

After further tests, John was diagnosed in 2005 with Dementia with Lewy Bodies, one of the most common types of progressive dementia, affecting alertness, speech and mobility.

Gayle said: "We were expecting a diagnosis, but it was still a huge blow.

"I felt cheated, John was due to take early retirement when he was 50 and we had all these plans of things we were going to do."

Leo, then a nine-year-old, was finding it equally difficult to cope.

Gayle said: "Initially he was an angry wee boy.

"I think he felt life was unfair and thought why was this happening to him."

The family was told about The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, which gave Gayle practical and emotional support and told her about a group for young carers at the Glasgow South East Carers Centre at Dixon Halls in Govanhill.

Gayle said: "He didn't want to go at first but once he did it was great.

"He saw he wasn't the only person in this situation and it made him realise he wasn't alone."

Leo added: "It's amazing.

"We all have a common ground, so we make friends a lot quicker, it's easier than talking to someone at school about it.

"Being a young carer, you need the emotional support."

When John's health started going downhill, Leo, by then 11, became a huge support for his mother.

Gayle said: "He would go out and do shopping for me so I could stay with John," said Gayle.

"As he got older he started helping more.

"There have been incidents where his dad has fallen out of bed and I can't get him back in by myself.

"He also helps John get about the house and keeps him company so I can go out to an appointment and know he's safe."

Gayle and Leo also help John with dressing, washing, feeding and toilet needs.

Leo said: "Having an ill husband must be one of the most stressful things ever, so I'm trying to take as much of the pressure off my mum as possible."

But for one weekend this summer, he'll have the chance to be like any other teenager, as he indulges in his favourite activities and socialises with friends at the festival.

Gayle said: "We've not been able to go on a holiday for a few years, so going away to the festival is a break for him.

"He comes back rejuvenated and you can see it in his face he's had such a good time."

This year, Leo took part in training for the festival radio station, run by a group of carers who play music and give out daily itineraries and information.

Leo said: "We had a lot of fun with the training.

"Everyone will get an hour or so at the festival and you're in pairs to host a show and we'll be playing as much music as possible."

THE training has inspired him so much that the Shawlands Academy pupil is now considering taking it further.

He said: "Depending on my Higher grades, I might go on to college.

"I haven't thought much about a career, but the training has shone a light on the media as an option.

"I'm so lucky to be a part of the festival."

The Scottish Young Carers Festival takes place from August 17 to August 19 in West Linton, Peebleshire.

For more information about the festival, or young carers in general, visit www.carers.org.

lalita.augustine@ eveningtimes.co.uk