Jenny McCarthy was the guest speaker at the club’s early January meeting. She spoke about Carers’ Support East Kent, a Kent based charity which offers a range of services for adult carers, including young adult carers aged 16 to 24 years old.
Information, support and signposting are provided by phone, email, text, online and in person.
The teams of paid staff make home visits if possible, meeting up to three or four carers per day.
In some circumstances, they can arrange respite care so that carers can have a break, even if only for a few hours to have “time for me”. The mental health of carers is an area of concern for Carers’ Support.
There are drop-ins and support groups where carers can share their experiences and realise that they are not alone.
In Faversham alone there are over 700 registered carers and probably many more who are unregistered. They may not think of themselves Carers, but if they look after a relative or friend who couldn’t manage without their help, then they are Carers.
Carers’ Support East Kent website www.carersek.org.uk