News | Young carers


downsmail.co.uk Young carers, hidden heroes


TALKS are being held to extend a helping hand to the growing army of young carers looking after loved ones at home. Crossroads Care Kent, in Maid-


stone, set up a division 15 years ago specifically to support young car- ers in the area – some as young as five. Knownwithin the care systemas


the country’s “hidden heroes” – facing the physical and emotional challenge of caring for a family member at home – that number is now as high as 10,000 in Kent but that number may, in reality, be much higher. The national figure is estimated


at 700,000 with the average age of a carer being 13. InwestKent,CrossroadsCare of-


fers respite and support to 170 youngsters, and has a waiting list of nearly 60. Jan Hall leads the youth team


from the charity’s headquarters in Wateringbury, operating six youth clubs for young carers at centres in Shepway and Senacre. She said: “These young carers are hidden be- cause there is no affective systemto identify them and many don’t see themselves as carers, but simply helping out after school.As a result we are only aware of around a quarter of youngsters caring for a familymember unsupported.” Currently, most young carers


are referred to Crossroads by their school, often as a result of absence,


Froma carer to a youth leader


JAMES Marshall (pictured), from Barming, spent his teens looking after hismum, who had lupus. On bad days, before and after school, she needed help to the bathroom, with cooking and domestic chores. Now, aged


26, James has turned again to


Cross-


roads, which saw him through this difficult time, to become a youth leader. We met up


with him at the young carers’ club in Shepway, where more than 40 carers enjoy the freedom to play pool, use the gym and socialise twice amonth. He said: “My experience means


I’mpretty approachable andwhile some choose to talk, most are happy just to be with others in the same situation.”


28


Crossroads youth teamleader Jan Hall, right, wth young carers Sam, Katrina, Alfie, Keira and Ellie


Funding is key to rolling out a


service throughout the county CROSSROADS Care Kent is in exploratory talks to extend its youth serv- icemodel programme to other parts of Kent – but funding will be cru- cial. The organisation receives no statutory support and relies on volunteers, grants, donations, fundraising and Children in Need to meet its annual running costs of around £85,000. Anyone interested in finding out more about the service can contact Jan Hall on jan.hall@crossroadswest.org or on 01622 817114.


Maidstone Weald February 2018


downsmail.co.uk


New firemen MAIDSTONE has two new fire- fighters after the first batch of full- time recruits at Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) in more than ten years completed their training. Jonny Bell, a 24-year-old former


outdoor activities instructor and former security officer Mark God- frey have completed an intensive 15-week training course where they learned about the challenges, techniques and risks faced by today’s fire service. They also learned the skills and


knowledge they will need to deal with the wide range of emergency incidents that firefighters respond to.


A total of 22 peoplewere chosen


from more than 5,000 applicants for the roles and they underwent a number of tests before joining the course.


Crossroads offers young carers likeMegan, Keira, Lauren and Freya, above, support and advice


arriving late or demonstrating be- havioural problems. Jan said: “These children often


feel alone and many come with is- sues such as eating disorders, anx- iety, panic attacks and self-harming because they have no outlet to dis- cuss their circumstances and are unawarewe are here to help.”


However, for those lucky


enough, advice, day trips, sign posting, respite care and youth clubs are making huge inroads when it comes to bridging the gap between isolation and support.


Reporting by Dawn Kingsford Time outmakes a


difference to Amy AMY Riordan (pictured below) is 13 and helps her mum look after her two autistic brothers. She said: “It’s great to meet up with carers of my age and just have some time out.” Matt,whose father has had sev-


eral strokes, keeps home with his brother. Now training to be a me- chanic, he also plans to become a volunteer. He said: “I’ve made so many


friends becausewe all share some- thing in common and there is a great sense of understanding among us. “Crossroads has given me so


much, I want to give something back.”


NHS boss goes AFTER seven years at the heart of theNHS inWest Kent,David Grif- fiths is stepping down as chairman of Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust . Mr Griffiths oversaw the incep-


tion of the trust, created in 2011 as part of the merger of Eastern and Coastal Kent Community Services NHS Trust and West Kent Com- munity Health, to provide care for patients in the community. Prior to this, hewas chair ofWest Kent Pri- mary Care Trust. Playing amajor part inmaintain-


ing the quality of care provided by the trust and its financial stability, the trust became the first NHS or- ganisation in Kent andMedway to achieve a ‘good’ rating from the CareQualityCommission,which it has retained, and one of the first sole community trusts in the coun- try to achieve foundation trust sta- tus. MrGriffiths, ofWesterham, said:


“I feel very privileged to have been part of the leadership team and to have worked with some truly ex- ceptional colleagues.”


Plan charges


THE cost of building or extending a home in Maidstone has gone up by an inflation-busting 20%. The increase relates to the fees for


advice and applying for planning permission, which became effec- tive on January 17. Maidstone Borough Council


claimed: “The recent change to planning application fees is some- thing that has been decided by cen- tral government. We have no power to change this structure and so must implement the new legis- lation as set out.”


A SUTTON Valenceman has joined a top auction and valuation house after years at the London giant Bonham’s. Charles Crisford, 45, will be the


go-to man for antique clocks at Lewes-based Gorringe’s. While the company is based in


Sussex, valuers will travel anywhere –particularly in the south-east - to seek out a gem. Mr Crisford,who ismarriedwith a


young son, attended Sutton Va- lence School and then LeicesterUni- versity where he read history of art. He said: “The antiques business


has so many disciplines and areas of expertise.With clocks you have to know about the case, themovement andthedialandthenyouhavetofind if they belong to each other!” CallMr Crisford on 01273 472503 email


or him Charlesc@gorringes.co.uk.


News


Tributes to PaulAlcock who has died aged 64


TRIBUTES have poured in for the former Premier League referee and Maidstone shopping centre manager, Paul Alcock, who has died aged 64. Mr Alcock, who refereed top-


flight matches from 1995 to 2000, died after a long battle against can- cer. The father, who lived in


Boughton Monchelsea, was as well known locally as the manager of The Mall shopping centre in the town.Unlike the professional refer- ees of today,MrAlcock helddown a full-time job away fromfootball. Suzie Brindle, the Mall’s market-


ing manager, worked with him at the centre, and said: “We are all deeply saddened by his passing.He will be greatlymissedby us all here. “A number of us worked closely


with Paul and still remained good friends through his battle with can- cer, oftenmeeting for coffee to laugh about the old times.” The referee’s most famous mo-


ment came in 1998 when he was pushed over by Sheffield Wednes- day’s Paolo Di Canio after sending the Italian off during a game with Arsenal. After hewas forced to retire from


refereeing at the age of 47, he kept his hand in by becoming a referee’s assessor, and also became an athlet- ics official. Stuart Butler, a Football League


assistant referee who lives in Cox- heath, said Mr Alcock was a “gen- uinely nice bloke.He used to assess me quite a lot. “And he was always really


friendly.He always gave such good advice and even when it was nega- tive, everything he said was re- spected.When I was starting out, it


Charles swaps Bond Street for auction firm in Sussex


was always good to see himaround becausewe don’t have a lot of high- level referees in our area. “He came to theMaidstoneRefer-


ees’ Association in August and he was so honest and open about both refereeing and his illness. The can- cer changed how he looked, but he was still sharp and was happy to talk about anything.” Hewasmanager at theMall for 17


years and was also involved in a number ofprojectswhichhelpedthe town centre as awhole. Ilsa Butler, the town centre co-or-


dinator at One Maidstone, said he was “very loyal” to his team She added: “Paulwas a key figure


within Maidstone’s business com- munity and he achieved somuch in that time.Hewas also someonewho was loyal to his team whether that was within Town Centre Manage- ment, The Mall, Urban Blue or his friends throughoutMaidstone. His energy levels were extraordinary, his contribution significant and his courage in the face of his illnesswas awe inspiring.Hewas a force of na- ture andwill be sorelymissed.” MrAlcockwasmarriedwith two


children. PO tax change


SMALL businesses in theMaid- stone area have hit a stumbling block as they are nowno longer able to pay tax at the Post Of- fice. SinceDecember, a change has


meant that allUKtaxpayers are nowunable to pay their taxes in person at the Post Office. HMRevenues and Customs


withdrew the use of the Tran- scash service, meaning that tax bills have to be paid either on- line, by phone or at banks or building societies. Mike Cherry, national chair-


man of The Federation for Small Businesses, said: “More than 90 per cent of members use online banking and many of thosewill choose to pay their taxes online. However...there are likely to be business owners still wishing to have the option to settlewithHMRC at the Post Office.” The Post Office said: “We’re


at


sorry to our customers that we are no longer able to offer this service, and customers should contact HMRC directly.”


Maidstone Weald February 2018 29


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