Ashford walk-in centre for carers

The first walk-in centre for carers opens in Ashford, providing support for carers of all ages in the surrounding area and a break from their responsibilities.

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Video transcript

Evy Barry reports.

Pam Ferris, Actor: 'What I can tell you is that I've seen about 40 Carers Centres over the last 10 years as Vice-President of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers and this is the best and I can say that happily as a new Shepway resident.'

This is well-known actress Pam Ferris at the opening of the county's first walk-in carers Centre.

Evy Barry, Kent TV: 'It's been set up by Carers Support, an independent Charity aiming to help carers of any age in the Ashford and Shepway area.'

Pam Ferris is best known for her starring roles as Ma Larkin in the Darling Buds of May which was coincidentally filmed around Ashford. She is not only a well-known face, she herself has been a full-time carer for her mother.

Pam Ferris: 'I think most people who've not had the caring experience think its something rather cosy tucking a blanket around a leg and providing a cup of tea; caring is a much more chaotic and panicky thing than that. There are as many different types of carers as there are people and illnesses and people who need care. Here you can get everything, you can get someone to help you fill in a form, you can have a shoulder to cry on, you can get advice on how to lift, how to look after different ailments, there's an Alzheimers Centre in the building which is incredibly useful. I just think it's a wonderful, wonderful place and I wish one of these had existed when I first became a carer in the early '80s.'

Local MP Damian Green recognises the importance of this kind of service for the future.

Damaian Green, MP for Ashford: 'Given that it's going to be one of the biggest growth areas in social services if you like, carers that actually - the voluntary carers, people caring for loved ones, elderly parents all those sort of things - there'll be more and more of it as we all live longer so I think it's hugely important that we have the best possible services for carers in Kent and this building we're standing in today is a symbol of how well we can do it.'

For Derek Wells, the Chairman of Carers Support the project is long over due.

Derek Wells, Chairman, Carers' Support: 'Our project is here for carers and it's to help them and that's what our main aim is. It's not about the building, it's not about the staff - it's what we do - this is here for what they need and it's desperately needed and it's strange in this time that we find ourselves with the first carers centre in Kent, be it all too late in my opinion - there should have been centres like this a long time ago.'

This centre may not have happened at all without the determination of four young carers who managed to raise £60,000 of the £200,000 needed from KCC's Youth Capital Fund.

Evy Barry, Kent TV: 'What do you do when you come here?'

Young Carers: 'We chill out, make friends and we socialise. And play and everything.'

The centre will be able to help the 1,200 carers the charity already work with and more.

Sue Ross, Chief Executive, Carers' Support: 'It's our dream come true. It's a vision I've always had for carers - it's a great feeling and we just really want to open the doors now to as many carers as we can.'