The Swale and Canterbury Carers’ Support charity is the Sittingbourne Messenger and Sheerness Times Guardian’s charity of the year. Chief reporter Hayley Robinson has been finding out about its work...

Caring for a sick or disabled loved one is never easy.

But working together with the public and voluntary sectors, Swale and Canterbury Carers’ Support aims to reduce the stress and stigma caused as a result of the caring role.

It currently supports more than 900 carers over the age of 18 in Swale and the greater Canterbury area as well as 230 young carers aged between five and 19 across Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

“We’ve had referrals as young as three if they’re born to parents who are both disabled,” said chief executive officer Chris Lovelock.

“With many young carers we find they’re in single-parent families. It’s often become too much for the other parent so they’ve left, then it becomes almost a role reversal where the child take on the parental role in the house.”

As a result, many youngsters don’t reach their full academic potential. Some youngsters may even skip school so they can carry out their role.

In a bid to make their lives as normal as possible, the charity’s school development officer works with teaching staff so they can support young carers throughout their education.

Day trips and camping holidays are also organised and all young carers registered with the charity are eligible to attend Club518 in Sheerness and Sittingbourne.

The facility is run as a youth club and includes games, art, sport, dance, drama and the occasional guest speaker.

Respite leisure activities are also offered to adult carers.

These include subsidised holidays (when available), training and personal development opportunities as well as regular support groups held across the districts.

Mrs Lovelock said: “We also arrange big trips for the whole family. It’s nice to get them all together and do things that other families take for granted.”

Health promotion officer, Alex Chapman, also keeps an eye on the health of carers registered with the charity.

“We have heard of carers who are so committed to caring for their loved ones they’ve put their own lives at risk.

“That’s heart wrenching and that’s why we have Alex,” added Mrs Lovelock.

For more information about the charity, which is based at Suite 9, Bank House, Broadway, Sheerness, call 01795 583440 or visit the website www.swalecarers.org.uk

• For facts and figures about the charity, see this week's paper.