At the age of 57, Peter Tappenden in Edenbridge gave up his job to look after his mother.

At 82 years of age, ill health meant his mother could not safely be left on her own. Peter cared for her for two years until her death last year.

"It was very difficult," he said. "I hadn't worked for two years, there seemed to be no direction to life. I went into Edenbridge Volunteer Centre not knowing what to expect. I had a particular interest in working with adults with learning disabilities - my previous job had been cooking in a residential home for this group – and the Volunteer Centre found me one day a week's work helping teach cooking skills to people with learning disabilities with Kent Care.

"It was very daunting at first but because it was voluntary work, there was no pressure while I found my feet."

Peter found his feet so well that after four months, he was asked to join Kent Care's staff three days a week. "It has opened up a new world to me, seeing the pleasure people get from new skills which I have taught them. I think I get even more out of it than they do!"