Kerry’s 30 years of caring for others

23rd June 23
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Care professional Kerry Giles-Brown is celebrating 30 years of helping people through her work with Caring Together Charity.

Caring Together Charity’s chief executive and some of the families she has supported have spoken of how much we all value the role she has played. At a time when there is a social care recruitment crisis, Kerry’s outstanding service with Caring Together Charity goes back to when she was 20 years old.

To celebrate her 30 years of service she is holding a fundraising tea party to help the charity do more to support unpaid carers of all ages across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Norfolk.

Miriam Martin, chief executive of Caring Together Charity said, “Providing homecare is an essential part of our charity’s work to relieve the pressures that many unpaid carers face in looking after someone. It means an unpaid carer can take a much-needed break, knowing their family member or friend is being well looked after. We are immensely proud of the work our care professionals do. And seeing all that Kerry has done for people over 30 years is absolutely outstanding.

“We are incredibly proud of her and glad that thanks to Kerry, Caring Together has been able to support many, many families over the last 30 years.

“It says so much about her care for others, pride in her work, and the way she values the support we at Caring Together provide, that she has chosen to mark her 30 years of service by a fundraising event that will mean more unpaid carers get the support they need. We are very fortunate and grateful to have Kerry as part of our team.

“While we see its importance every single day, the work homecare professionals do is often not given the recognition it should have. It is vital in helping people to continue to live independently and safely in their own homes, and to give essential support to unpaid carers.”

Carer Trevor and Care Professional KerryKerry has her own personal reasons for knowing how challenging and relentless it can be for people looking after a family member, friend, or partner, who could not cope without their support.

She said, “I’ve seen myself what caring for a loved one can do to you, as my dad cared for my mum who had physical health problems.

“He cared for her at home until she sadly died and even though the caring was immense and stressful, never once did I hear him complain.”

“My aim is to keep people living in their home, safely.”

Trevor and his wife, Irene, are among those supported by Kerry. Trevor and his daughter provide much of the support Irene needs but value Kerry’s help with each visit, and not just for the practical help she gives. He said, “Kerry is very upbeat, she livens the place up. Not only for Irene, for me as well.”

Keith and Joy care for each other with the support of their family and our care professionals. Keith has cancer and is receiving hospice home care and Joy is living with dementia. Our team visit Keith and Joy twice a day to help with their breakfast and dinner, their medication and other tasks, helping them to live safely and independently in their Haddenham home.

Keith says, “We have a good laugh with Kerry and she brightens our day up. She is patient with Joy and helps her to keep doing the jobs around the house, such as the washing, making cups of tea, plus she enjoys walking in our garden with her.”

Kerry helped to support Helen Oliver’s mum, Shirley, and Helen is also grateful to have had this support. Helen said, “She changed our lives. We called her Hurricane Kerry! She would come in like a hurricane and lift the mood in the house. When I say about bringing the outside world in, well she did. It came gusting through the door with her, but it was really, really positive and she would lift my mood.”

Kerry and several of her friends are raising awareness of unpaid carers and the ‘silent stress’ of caring, by holding a Time for a Tea in ’23 event.

The fundraising afternoon tea event takes place on Sunday 2 July 3pm – 5pm at the Littleport Ex-Servicemen’s Club.

Tickets for an afternoon tea of sandwiches, sausage rolls, cakes and jam and cream scones and cold drinks cost£7.50 per person. Tea and coffee can be bought separately. To buy tickets, contact Kerry on 07823 333242.