The March meeting of the Chard Carers Support Group was let down by our promised speaker (to talk to us about tax and toyboys (!)) but we were very lucky to have Serena Wootton, a local councillor and businesswoman, drop in and talk to us about all the activities and services provided for Chard residents by the Hub in their new headquarters in Boden Street. The Hub is a self-funded, dedicated space for the community of Chard to meet up, drop in or join in with events – their activities currently include the all-important community fridge, which is free to those who need it with donations of food being made to optimise use and prevent food wastage.

This enterprise is doing so much good for the residents of Chard and we appreciate all the time that the volunteers give up to run the venture. We had a discussion when Serena had left about the carer’s role and how difficult carers find it to be able to volunteer for pretty much anything as they are tied to their cared for so much of the time. 

A new Commitment to Carers is about to be published by Evolving Communities, Healthwatch, Somerset Council and NHS Somerset and it will be interesting to see how this has moved on from the 2016 Care Act, particularly as the cost of living, politics, pensions, etc, not to mention Covid-19, have had such a big impact on our lives since then. If all of the unpaid carers in the UK withdrew their care for a year, it would cost £162 billion to replace them!

Later in March we had a small outing for lunch with carers and cared for. We chose a mid-month date so that carers who have child care responsibilities in the Easter holidays could attend – again highlighting the amazing ability of carers to juggle responsibilities and just ‘be there’ as needed.

The next meeting of the Chard Carers Support Group will be on Monday 8th April, when we will be taught how to properly use a defibrillator, socialise and bring ourselves up-to-date with the latest carers’ news - 10.30-12.30 in the hall behind the English Martyrs Church at the traffic lights in Chard. If you are an unpaid carer or would like more information about the group, please contact Pat on 01460 220026 or Kate on 01460 394331, email chardcarers@aol.com or find us on Facebook.