A teenage girl who helps care for her disabled younger brother has been nominated for an award in a competition that celebrates young people.

Rosie Vince supports her brother Tyler, 14, who suffers from autism, epilepsy and auditory processing disorder.

The 17-year-old is described as “such a good example for other young people to follow”.

Rosie is also an influential student at University Technical College, in Cambridge, an active member of the Sibling Support Group and teaches youngsters at her local Tae Kwon Do club in Ely.

She has been nominated for the LifePlus Young People of the Year awards or “YOPEYs” – Oscars for young people who “give to others”.

Rosie, who lives in Littleport, works alongside her parents Sarah and John in providing care for her brother and ensures he takes all his medication and keeps an eye on him.

Melissa Lee, head of careers and learning resources at Rosie’s college, said: “During the summer holidays Rosie volunteered for Cambridgeshire County Council helping to run a club for children who have siblings with additional needs.

“She started to do this as she was originally a member of the group and when offered the opportunity to help with the younger children she was more than happy to share the experience that she went through herself.

“Helping the children to understand that they are not alone and that the feelings that they go through are normal giving them a voice and an opportunity to work through what they are experiencing.”

Along with her brother, she is also a member of the Mark Farnham Tae Kwon Do School which meets in the Paradise Centre, Ely, and at the Downham Market Academy.

She helps every week teaching a class of children aged five to 11.

“She is very hard working, understanding and a caring individual who takes care of her brother day in day out,” added Ms Lee. “She is such a good example for other young people to follow.

“She cares about her home and her college and works really hard and is a bright and happy girl and doesn’t bring her home problems into college.

“She is always smiling and is a very positive, cheerful girl.”

Rosie, who hopes to have a career in nursing, said she was “shocked” at being nominated for the award.

At home along with her 48-year-old father, an engineer at Michell Instruments, in Ely, and her 41-year old mother, a learning support assistant at the special needs Highfield Littleport Academy, in Camel Road, she helps out with her brother who attends Ely College.

“He has a lot of problems sometimes and it requires me to keep a constant eye on him. When he has his fits he can fall and walk round in circles and sometimes this can happen frequently in a short period of time and that can affect his memory for up to an hour.”

Rosie said of being nominated: “I was quite shocked and didn’t realise what I really do is rewardable. It’s just a normal thing for me to do but to be recognised for what I do is incredible and amazing.”

And she said if she was lucky to win she would use the money to help purchase a hearing device at home for her brother.