Emotional plea to support young carers


A MAIDSTONE-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, Cross- roads 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 at primary school, who care for a family member. Irene stresses it is vital that they still “have fun” and have time to enjoy their childhood. TheYoung Carers' Proj-


ect works actively with 120 five to 18-year-olds in Maidstone and part of Malling. There are 40


About-to-retire Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Eric Hotson, presents a £6,345 cheque to Irene Jeffrey, Crossroads' chief executive. Pictured left of the mayor is Jan Hall, who manages the charity's Young Carers project, and right, his wife Janet Hotson, next to Paul Alcock,the gen- eral manager of The Mall Shopping Centre, which raised £600 towards the total at an awards night last year. More funds on the way - page 35


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."


others on the waiting list. “Youngsters we


work with have substantial caring roles, usually with parents or brothers or sis- ters,” said Irene at Crossroads’ HQ at Mereworth Busi- ness Centre. “Our project


being a carer, with no one to under- stand what they are experiencing. Theymightnotwant,orbeabletoex- plain to their friends why they can't come out to play or go to their house. They have heavy respon- sibilities. “At the club they can


open up, and say they have had such a dreadful 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 awheelchair,” 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).


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


AN INVESTIGATION was launched after allegations that disabled youngsters were mocked by having their pictures pinned on a “wall of shame” at a Kings Hill office. Kent County Council said a member of staff had been suspended


while a disciplinary hearing took place. The allegations centre on the school transport office where photo- graphs of childrenwholooked different were said to have been placed on awall. It is believed the pictures were sent to the office by parents applying for school bus passes. KCC said it totally condemned any such behaviour and expected


the highest standards of professional conduct from all staff. “Accordingly, these allegations are being dealt with very urgently


and the member of staff involved in this issue has been suspended while a disciplinary hearing takes place in accordance with county council procedures.”


Archbishop’s Palace staircase returns PART of a staircase that had been in Maidstone’s Archbishop’s Palace for 400 years has been found... in a skip. The Jacobean post, which dates from the reign of James I, was removed from the palace during a restoration project. It was dis- carded when the reception area was being refurbished. Discussions are underway to decide whether to restore the


post to its original place in theMill Street palace. A KCC spokesman said: “The post is in safe storage.We’ve contacted Maidstone Council about the next steps.”


One in three will be over 65 by 2022


THE number of over-65s in Kent will have increased by over 32% by 2022. In the same period, the county’s overall population is


32 Town


expected to grow by 10.6% – or more than 148,000. The rate of growth will be slower in West Kent, county councillors were told in a health report.


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


has an educa- tional role: “We are trying to help


young carers into employment. Their caring role does affect their educa- tion, in terms of missing school, not achieving their exam grades or not going to a university they may have expected to.” Leeds Castle's chief executive, Vic-


toria Wallace, recently donated 100 tickets to the project after she met some of the young carers at a Chil- dren In Need event.


Probe over ‘disabled mockery’ Shoppers’ blood pressure warning


OVER a quarter of shoppers tested in Maidstone were warned to seek medical atten- tion over high blood pressure. Members of the Red Cross


and the Rotary Club of Maid- stone Riverside offered free blood tests. The annual ‘Know Your Blood Pressure’ campaign was set up in The Mall and checked 270 people in one day. Around 75 (27%) of the shop-


pers had high blood pressure and were advised to see their doctor. Peter Bodycombe, the Rotary


Club president, said: “If only onepersoniswarnedintimeto avoid having a stroke, the day will have been worthwhile.”


Peter Bodycombe has his blood pressure checked.


Nursery praised for safety standards


A MAIDSTONE nursery has been praised by Ofsted for having ex- cellent systems to safeguard the children’s welfare. Just Learning, in College Road, which has 79 babies and tots on


its roll, was rated good overall, with some outstanding features. Inspector Susan Scott who visited in April, said staff recognised


each child as an individual and helped to ensure that all children made progress in their learning and development. She noted that children felt “extremely safe and confident” and benefited from easy access to a wide range of specialist services and appealing activities and visits, such as to the river and library. Great attention was paid to children’s safety in the nursery and ex- emplary relationships had been establishedwith parents and carers.


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