East Sussex charity celebrates over 30 years’ supporting unpaid carers
26th October
The Cherry Bakewells at Holy Cross Priory
The Association of Carers, which provides volunteer-led support to unpaid carers throughout East Sussex, hosted a series of parties during October to mark 30 years of the charity helping to make a difference.
This included a party at Holy Cross Priory, Heathfield, where volunteers, carers and cared-for people came together to enjoy afternoon tea alongside entertainment from Hastings duo The Cherry Bakewells.
The parties were paid for by a legacy donation left to the charity by one of their trustees, Jennifer Allen, who passed away in 2016. Jennifer was a carer to her mother, but also dedicated her time to ensuring carers across the county received the support she strongly felt they deserved. There are an estimated 65,000 unpaid carers in East Sussex and, nationally, carers save the economy £132 billion per year which is an average of £19,336 per carer.
The Association of Carerswas established in Hastings in 1987 by a group of carers and healthcare professionals who recognised the need for carers to be able to take a regular break from their caring role to help preserve their own physical and mental well-being.
Since then, the
charity has expanded to work throughout East Sussex, and currently supports nearly 50 carers in Heathfield and the surrounding areas. To find out more about the charity you can visit their website www.associationofcarers.org.uk or telephone 01424 722309.
