A SUCCESSFUL social enterprise venture designed to benefit unpaid carers will be the venue for a visit by HRH The Princess Royal later this month (Friday 27 May).
As president of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, The Princess Royal will be spending some time at Carlogie House in Carnoustie.
The hotel was taken over by The Princess Royal Trust East Ayrshire Carers Centre last year and is used as a place where unpaid carers and young carers from East Ayrshire and all over Scotland can take a break from caring.
As well as respite, the venue is a social enterprise business.
It employs and trains young people from East Ayrshire who aren’t presently in education, employment or training to work at the house as cooks, cleaners, gardeners and managers.
Carers’ Centres and carers’ services throughout the UK can use the facility for carers to take respite breaks. Carlogie House can also be used by businesses for conferences and meetings.
So far, some 150 carers from all over Scotland have been able to take advantage of the facility.
Carlogie House is the third successful social enterprise venture for East Ayrshire Carers Centre, which also runs a similar respite house in Dalmellington.
A distinctive pink pamper bus which visits carers in rural areas is another venture, offering hard working carers the chance to relax and enjoy a much-needed break from caring.
The Princess Royal will tour the house and meet with carers from the East Ayrshire and Angus areas, as well as staff from the Carers’ Centre and Carlogie House.
Kathleen Ross, who visited Carlogie House earlier this year, says: “I enjoyed every minute. It was like a five star hotel – only better.
“The staff knew exactly how I felt because they work with carers. I really needed a break; things were getting very difficult at home and I badly needed a rest.
“I went home with my batteries re-charged, feeling great, and I now know the very place I’ll go the next time I need a rest.”
Laura Bennie is East Ayrshire Carers Centre’s deputy manager.
She says: “We’re really looking forward to showing Carlogie House to The Princess Royal. Since opening the facility we have had six young carers respite breaks, three conferences, two residential training events, a charity ball and an adult respite break.
“Everyone who comes just loves the facility no matter what age they are. We are really excited about developing the facility in the future to cater for carers throughout the UK.”
For more information, case studies, interviews with spokespersons or photos after the event, please contact Emma Baird, Press and PR Manager (Scotland) on 0141 285 7938/07791 230261 or email: ebaird@carers.org
Media invitation:
All press reporters who would like to attend the visit and interview carers will need to notify Emma Baird by 23 May. Press photographers are welcome to take photographs of The Princess Royal upon her arrival outside Carlogie House. Please contact Emma to find out the time.
Photographs of the event will be available for media use after.
Interviews:
Journalists who would like to interview Laura Bennie, deputy manager of The Princess Royal Trust East Ayrshire Carers Centre, or a carer should contact Emma Baird on the number above.
Notes to editors:
- The Princess Royal will be introduced to Florence Burke, director for Scotland for The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, and Laura Bennie, deputy manager of The Princess Royal Trust East Ayrshire Carers Centre, before touring the house and meeting carers and young carers.
- Established in 1996, East Ayrshire Carers Centre (a network member of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers) provides a wide range of support services for unpaid carers and young carers. In 2009/2010, the centre supported more than 6,000 individual carers in the East Ayrshire area. The centre’s contact details are: The Princess Royal Trust East Ayrshire Carers Centre, 49 The Foregate, Kilmarnock KA1 1LU, telephone 01563 571533 or email: admin@eastayrshirecarers.org.uk
- The Princess Royal Trust for Carers is one of the largest providers of comprehensive carers support services in the UK. Through its unique network of 144 independently managed Carers’ Centres, 89 young carers’ services and interactive websites, www.carers.org and www.youngcarers.net, The Trust currently provides quality information, advice and support services to more than 424,000 carers, including approximately 28,500 young carers.
- In Scotland, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers currently helps more than 49,000 adult and more than 4,000 young carers in Scotland to cope with their caring role through a network of 29 Carers’ Centres and 24 young carers’ services.
- A carer is someone who, without payment, provides help and support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without their help because of age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability.
MEDIA RELEASE posted by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Emma Baird
Phone: 0141 285 7938/07791 230261
Email: ebaird@carers.org
Website: http://www.carers.org
