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.”


30 Maidstone East March 2018


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.


downsmail.co.uk BoughtonMalherbe


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.”


Highways issues Itwas reported that the road surface on LivertonHillwas breaking up close to StreamFarm,while several issues regarding ditches, gullies and potholeswere raised by Cllr Turner,with CllrAllumto pursue thesewith Kent County Council’s (KCC)Highways department. Bus fears Cllr Collins updated themeeting with regards to discussionswith KCC on bus subsidies as the number 59 could be at risk. Decision are set to bemade by July for implementation in September. External reports Cllr Galton had a�ended the KentAssociation of Local Councils (KALC)AGM, a KCCHighwaysworkshop and ameetingwith the Police and Crime Commissioner, aswell as ameeting at the garden centre sitewithMaidstone Borough Council (MBC). Cllr Turner also provided feedback fromthe KALC Crime Prevention Seminar. Donation The council had asked for suggestions ofwhat they could spend the £100,000 donation fromdevelopers Quinn Estates on.A total of 27 different ideas were submi�ed by 54 people. The clerkwas to reviewall of the suggestions and identify their legality. Cllr Galtonwas to arrange for the list of proposals to go into the next edition ofMalherbeMonthly and Cllr Turnerwas to approach the land owner to explore options around the acquisition of the YewTree to enable this option to be explored given that the tree is on private land. Christmas tree Itwas resolved that the budget provision for the Christmas tree of £100 be increased to cover the cost for 2017, whichwas £170. Data Protection The clerkwas to explore all options for providing a Data Protection Officer andwas to explore options for creating council email addresses, to report back at the nextmeeting. Warden Scheme Cllr Turner briefed members on the Volunteer Community Warden Scheme andwas tomake further enquiries. KALC site The clerkwas to look into access to the KALCwebsite for councillors after a request fromCllr King.


Broomfield&Kingswood


Borough report Cllr Gill Fort reported that MBCwere se�ing the budgets for 2018/19 and that cutbackswere needed,which would probably affect council tax. Jennifer Shepherdwill be running the play equipment scheme atMBC and Cllr Fort was to notify the clerk as soon as the decision to release the grant funding is available. Cllr Darling raised the issue of councillors on the planning commi�ee abstainingwhen voting on decisions and Cllr Fort said this had been discussed by the commi�ee but no changes to the procedurewould bemade at this time. Crime reportsAswell as an incident involving garden ornaments, itwas noted that there have been lots of reports locally – but not in the parish as yet – of car number plate thefts. Budget The council agreed to include an


allowance of £5,000within the draft budget for 2018/19 following receipt of a le�er fromthe Joint Parishes Group. Councillors also agreed unanimously to adopt the budget proposal for the year, and to a precept application of £55,500. Trafficmanagement Councillors requested the clerk to apply to the KCCmember’s grant for 50%of the cost of the installation of the keep clear roadmarkings and/or zebra crossing installation in Gravelly Bo�omRoad. The council also agreed to the purchase of eight ‘Single Track Road’ signs at an approximate cost of £800. Sports field The clerkwas absent due to illness so the contract for additional equipment for the fieldwas held over to the nextmeeting, and the request for a storage unit in the car parkwill be discussed inMarch. The Gypsy and Traveller Collaboration and village signing agenda itemswere also carried over to the nextmeeting. Buildingwork The Community Centre Commi�ee hadmet to discuss aims and objectives regarding the pre-school extension and the parish council office facility. The preferred optionwas an extension to the village hall but alternatives needed to be considered. Cllr Darlingwas to look into possible funding options,while CllrHoy had contactedMBC planners about the possibility of building something outside the village envelope but there is nowa £150 fee for pre-application advice. Therewas also a need to contact the pre- school for themto confirmtheir space requirements and future plans. Pre-school Cllr Friend had received a report fromthe pre-school outlining a positive outlookwith numbers at a maximumwith awaiting list, and the numbers for September’s intake are already looking very good. TreeworryA tree protected by a TPO in Tall Trees had been felled following concerns that itwas about to go over in highwinds. Itwas agreed that the council would notify the planning authority of their knowledge that the tree had been felledwithout planning permission so that they could carry out an investigation.


Harrietsham


Railway damage CommunityWarden Martin Sherwood said that the damage at the railway station is being investigated by British Transport Police. Rogue tradersMr Sherwood alsowarned of rogue traders and asked that residents exercise caution by checking out of the windowbefore answering the door.He said hewould be happy to be present if anyone is tomeetwith a tradesman. Mayor visits TheMayor ofMaidstone, Cllr MalcolmGreer,was a guest speaker at the meeting and gave some background into thework he completed as the Cabinet Member for the Regeneration of Maidstone.He had raisedmore than £150,000 for Kent LungAwareness, Maidstone Sea Cadets and the Blackthorn Trust in his time asMayor, aswell as helping to raise funds for theMaidstone Arts Council.He then donned a Cleopatra


wig for the rest of themeeting, as councillors had offered tomake a donation to his charities. Amenity contracts It had been agreed at the recent environmentalmeeting to accept the cheapest tenders for each contract, and thiswas agreed by the full council. The AmenityManagerwas thanked for his work on the tendering of the contracts.He then reported that two aerators had been purchased by residents around the lake and a third, second-hand, unit could be purchased by the council for £800. The cost of running the unitwould be approximately £300 a year andwould be arranged through Pilgrims Lakes Management Ltd. Itwas thought this, alongwith the outstanding treatment of the lake, should assist greatlywith keeping the lake clear. Itwas agreed to purchase the aerator. Precept The proposed budget and precept had been circulated to all councillors. The proposed precept requirementwas £117,723, resulting in a precept of £94.72 per Band D property,which equates to an addition 14.55p aweek. Thiswas agreed. Highways issues Cllr J Sams reported that potholes continue to be reported and that more residentswere using the Kent Highways ‘Report a Fault’website. The clerk gave an update on theA20 improvement scheme and itwas thought the consultationwith residentswill take place inMarch. Itwas also noted that Kent Highwayswere due to rectify the blocked drains under the bridge on theA20. Footpath Cllr T Sams and the clerk hadmet with JennieWatson fromKentHighways regarding the footpath on Church Road. Ameywas no longer employed by KCC, which removed the issuewith the liability clause in the contract le�er. Itwas noted thatHighwayswould not fund the project, somoney had been set aside in the precept. Highwayswere to investigate land ownership and then the councilwould need to hold a consultationwith the residents. Then a design can be drawn up for the path on the Lakeland side of Church Road. The other side, by the Booth Field and VillageHall,will be the second phase andwould bemore complicated. Cllr Sams said this could be budgeted for in 2019/20 and itwas noted that the street lighting would need to be upgraded along the road and thiswould be included in the design. Visiting councilA report fromLenham Parish Council’s latestmeetingwas circulated and had included the progress of theNeighbourhood Plan, concerns over the future of the library and the possibility of planting 30 native trees around the boundary of the cemetery. Field parking The clerk had received the annual request fromtheHeart of Kent Hospice to use the Glebe Field for parking for the BluebellWalk onMay 6. The hospicewould require the field to be unlocked from8amto 4pm. The usewould have the usual caveats a�achedwith regards to reinstatement if any damagewas caused. Itwas agreed. Speedwatch Cllr J Sams reported that only four residents fromacross Lenhamand Harrietshamparishes had turned up for a meeting. Itwas noted that aminimumof


Maidstone East March 2018 31


Parish Councils


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