Melin Homes steps in to help secure future of Torfaen Carers’ Centre

The Carers Centre, which is located in Pontypool provides emotional support as well as information about benefits, respite care, transportation and personal care, but is currently only run by volunteers. As part of the collective agreement we have now employed a development worker to support the Centre's management board. The post is being be funded by the Waterloo Foundation and Torfaen County Borough Council, and managed by us.

The centre is open Monday to Friday 10am-3pm and welcomes any carers who are looking for help and support. It also provides a home to Hafal and Bipolar UK and runs programs such as the Support Group for Dementia. The centre was established in 2005 and the founder and the Board have made their valuable services available since then, but they hope that working with us will safeguard the future of the centre.

According to the National Census (201) 11,917 residents in Torfaen provide unpaid care. A study by the University of Leeds found that the economic value of an unpaid carer is £18,500 per annum. Less well known is the fact that one in five carers give up work to care for a family member, and carers are twice as likely to suffer from poor health compared to those they provide care for.

Mark Gardner, Chief Executive of Melin Homes, said: "we are pleased to be working with such wonderful volunteers who provide service for carers in Torfaen. The Carers Centre not only benefit our residents but also supports the health, social care and well-being of the wider community."

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