THREE young carers from Shrewsbury are in the running for a prestigious humanitarian award.

Arron Morris, Sarah Thomas and Sophie Stevens are among 33 finalists for the British Red Cross Humanitarian Citizen Awards 2011.

Arron, 21, has volunteered for the young carers service since he was 18 and cares for his father who has ongoing health issues.

He helps run monthly peer support meetings and feeds into the National Young Carers Strategy on behalf of the Red Cross.

Seventeen-year-old Sarah Thomas cares for her mother, who has MS, and her father who has had to retire from work due to ill health.

She has been a member of the Shropshire Young Carers Service for five years and has been helping raise the profile of young carers with decision-makers.

Sarah is also part of the MS Society Committee and undertakes her volunteering roles alongside attending college full time to study for her A-levels.

Sophie Stevens, 17, attends college full time and spends around 40 hours a week caring for her mother and younger sister.

Her evening routine includes household chores and cooking a meal before completing her coursework.

Sophie has become a Red Cross event first aid volunteer and provides first aid cover at a range of public events in the area.

The awards are open to young people aged under 26 right across the UK.

Arron, Sarah and Sophie are all supported by the Red Cross young carers project in Shropshire although nominees do not need to have any connection with the Red Cross.

The project supports young people who provide a caring role for a family member who is ill, disabled, suffers with mental health difficulties or has alcohol or drug-related issues.

Vanessa Turner, young carers development manager, said: “It’s a privilege to nominate these young people for all their hard work which they do on top of their caring role.”

Finalists will attend a glittering awards ceremony at the Bishopsgate Institute, London, on October 8.