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
others on the waiting list. “Youngsters we
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.
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."
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. Theymight not want, or be able to ex- 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
Shared parking service saves £146,000 THE pain of seeing a parking fine stuck to your windscreen may be eased slightly by the knowledge that Maidstone Council is mak- ing big savings in running the service from now on. It is the result of the borough teaming up with Swale Council to operate a combined contract, saving Maidstone about £146,000 an- nually.
Council leader Chris Garland agreed that the partnershipwas the
best way forward. Negotiations with staff and trade unions were being held to coincide with the introduction of the new contract on June 1. Areport to Cllr Garland said: “Under the new arrangements there
will be one parking services manager for both Maidstone and Swale and one back officermanager for processing penalty charge notices, parking permits etc. “The back office staffwill remain the same in both authorities, al- though this will be reviewed after 12 months.”
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
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.
Mall shoppers’ blood pressure warning
MORE than a quarter of shoppers tested in Maidstone were warned to seek medical attention over high blood pressure. Members of the Red Cross and the Rotary Club of Maidstone Riverside offered free blood tests as part of the annual ‘Know Your Blood Pressure’ campaign, which was set up in The Mall. Some 270 shoppers had their blood pressure checked during the
day and around 75 (27%) of them were advised to consult their doctor because of the reading.
Show human cannonball inquest opens
AN inquest has been opened and adjourned into the death of a man who died in a human cannonball stunt at Kent Show- ground on Easter Monday.
CURVES of Senacre Square has donated food to local charities for the fourth year run- ning.
During April, mem-
bers at the female-only gym were encouraged to work out three times a week and bring a bag of
non-perishable
Matthew Cranch (24), of Wa- tergate Bay, Newquay, died of multiple injuries after a stunt, involving him being fired from a cannon, went wrong.
Curves’ 1,000lb food donation
items into the club – for which they were re- warded with a Curves Recyclable shopping bag. Over 1,000lb of food items were donated to chosen chari-
Visit Downs Mail’s website —
downsmail.co.uk
Cindy Byron, of Restoring Hands (left), with Curves’ owner Phillipa Gill and Dave Creasey of Beacon Church.
ties – Restoring Hands, Lower Stone Street in Maidstone and Beacon Life Centre, Northum- berland Road, Shepway.
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