Emotional plea to support young carers


A MEREWORTH-based charity called Crossroads that supports carers is heading for a major crossroad of its own.


Already, one critical choice of action has been taken, to


charge for one of its services. And with uncertainty over funding becoming an increasing concern, Crossroads is hoping the community will respond generously. Peter Erlam investigated the merits of the charity.


IRENE Jeffrey, chief executive of Crossroads CareWest Kent, is a pas- sionate advocate of the role it plays in helping adult and young carers cope - and in giving them a well de- served break. In particular, she is concerned about young people, some of them still at primary school, who care for a family member. Irene stresses it is vital that they still "have fun" and get enough time to enjoy their childhood. The Young Carers' Project works ac- tively with 120 five to 18-year-olds in Maidstone and part of Malling. There are 40 oth-


Maidstone mayor, Cllr EricHotson, presents a £6,345 cheque to Irene Jeffrey, Crossroads' chief executive. Left of the mayor is Jan Hall, who manages the charity's Young Carers project, and his wife, Janet Hotson. Far right is Paul Alcock, general manager of The Mall Shopping Centre, which raised £600 towards the total at an awards night last year


Doubt over County Council funding KENT County Council has, in the past, part-funded Cross- roads CareWest Kent with a five-figure sum. "We have al- ways been very grateful for what they have done," said chief execuive Irene Jeffrey. "They say they will continue to September but after that we don't know." Irene continued: "We have always managed to raise part


of our costs. People are so kind and generous. Small char- itable trusts have given us money as well. That is ongo- ing, but it is getting harder. There are many more calls on the trusts; they get inundated with requests." She added: "We hope we will get some grants, that peo-


ple will volunteer their time or that companies will make us their chosen charity."


ers on the waiting list. "Youngsters we work with have substantial caring roles, usually with parents or brothers or sisters," said Irene at Cross- roads’ HQ at Mere- worth Business Centre. "Our project aims to help them


enjoy their childhood. They give such a lot to their families. It's im- portant that we remember they are children, This could mean going on a day trip, taking part in a sports competition or meeting at a youth centre once a week. The Young Carers' Club is held on Mondays at Shepway. Irene said: "They have the opportunity to meet other carers. It can be so isolating


Trees on the move with giant ‘spade’ FIVE mature trees have been moved half a mile across Kings Hill to save them from being felled when work starts on newdevelopments around Liberty Square. Four flowering cherries and one


pine tree were dug up and trans- ported by a giant “tree spade”. The machine has large petal-shaped prongs that dig deep underneath the tree so that when raised, it retains its root ball. The trees were moved from an


area near Asda’s delivery bay and replanted near the cricket pavilion in an operation that lasted a day. Andrew Blevins, managing director of developers Liberty Property Trust


UK Ltd, said: “They had to be moved because of planning conditions re- lating to the expansion of the central area. We didn’t want them to be cut down so we arranged for them to be moved near the cricket pavilion, where we hope they will thrive and give pleasure for generations to come.”


Ronan splashes out for charity


YOUNG Ronan Measor (pictured) completed 100 lengths in the Swimathon at Larkfield Leisure centre, raising more than £500 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. The 10-year-old, who


lives in Malling Road, Snodland, and attends St Katherine’s School, com- pleted the challenge in 52 minutes.


No inspection LUNSFORD Primary School is fairing so well that its next full Ofsted inspection has been de- ferred until next sum- mer at the earliest. The school received


an “outstanding” rating in 2008 and will have annual assessments based on grades and at- tendance.


being a carer, with no one to under- stand what they are experiencing. They might not want, or be able to explain to their friends why they can't come out to play or go to their house. They have heavy responsibilities. "At the club they can


open up, and say they have had such a dread- ful night, knowing there is someone there who will understand it. The friendship they find there is very important." They have also had


ONE girl, who lives in Yalding, joined the project as an eight-year- old when it started 10 years ago. Now she is doing her A-levels. "She is the sole carer for her mother, who is in a wheelchair" said Irene. "They have a lovely relationship but that girl has been a sole carer for a long time." The travel costs for her to go to the young carers' club in Shepway, Maidstone, are paid by the Cross- roads project. "We can't let it be an obstacle to letting carers attend," said Irene (pictured).


talks on subjects such as autism, first aid and emotional resilience. But Irene adds it is important they have fun too, and they cer- tainly had a big slice of that re- cently with their own ver- sions of TV's Ready Steady Cook and Strictly Come Dancing. The project


also has an educational role: "We are trying to help young carers into em- ployment. Their caring role does af- fect their education, in terms of missing school, not achieving their exam grades or not going to a uni- versity they may have expected to.” Leeds Castle's chief executive Victo- ria Wallace recently donated 100 tickets to the project after she met some of the young carers at a Chil- dren In Need event.


School progress is praised HARD work by pupils and staff has paid off at a Larkfield school which was told to improve. Brookfield Junior School in Swallow Road has made sat- isfactory progress since its last inspection 16 months ago, according to Ofsted. InspectorWendy Simmons, who visited in March, noted


a number of changes including the appointment of three new teaching assistants and additional voluntary help. The school now opens 15 minutes earlier in the morning


to allow for the staggered arrival of pupils and “early work”. This had a positive impact on punctuality and sets a very calm start to the day. In November, 2009, Brookfield was graded satisfactory overall but asked to improve standards in English, maths and science, the proportion of good and better lessons and broaden the curriculum. In her monitoring report, the inspector said leaders and


staff had been firmly focused on improving pupils’ achievement since the last inspection. The impact of their work did not emerge in the 2010 results due to past under- achievement. However, more of the current year 6 were on track to reach the required grades than in the last four years, showing a secure and satisfactory improvement. The whole school was keenly working to improve writ-


ing and there had been a steady improvement in the qual- ity of teaching. There had also been progress in improving assessment procedures and the curriculum. Links between subjects were now securely established and pupils were proud of their new partnership with a school in Mombasa.


West Malling animal feed burglary HAY and animal feed were taken in a burglary at Eden Farm Lane,West Malling.


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