Thame Care Worker Honoured

A THAME woman was one of two dedicated care-workers honoured for their dedication and thoughtfulness at an annual awards ceremony at County Hall,Oxford.

Louise Hawkins, of Thame, who works in the Autism Resource Centre at Lord Williams? Lower School in Thame, was nominated by a parent grateful for the time and attention Louise gives her son. With her help, the boy has lost his anxiety about school and she helped prevent him from dropping out of school altogether.

The awards were presented by Anne Kelaart, former High Sheriff of Oxfordshire at a recent meeting of the Oxfordshire Carers? Forum, which is mainly funded by Oxfordshire County Council.

Dr Evan Harris, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, was also there, speaking about the problems of supporting and resourcing people who provide unpaid care for relatives and sometimes friends and neighbours.

The awards, are intended as a tribute from individual unpaid carer to a paid care-worker who contributes to the care of the nominator?s relative or friend.

Based in Witney, the Oxfordshire Carers? Forum has about 900 members who act as a carers? watchdog, a mutual support group and also as one of the first points of call for the County Council when it wants to know what carers? think about a particular issue.

Both the Council and the Forum would like to see more carers join up.

Cllr Don Seale, portfolio holder for Adults? and Community Services, said: ?The Carers? Forum is going from strength to strength, doing a fantastic job both for carers and for the Council.

?The more members it has the better, because it means more people are getting advice and because more people are having their say in how we provide our services.?

Cllr Seale added: ?Sometimes people may be afraid to ask for help because they think Social Services will step in and take over, but that?s not the case. We?re there to support people where we can, not to take control of their lives.?

Tony Purkis, the Forum Chairman said: ?The Forum gives both practical and emotional support to members, but a lot of people don?t think of joining us because they don?t consider themselves to be carers. They think the emotional and practical support they themselves give to friends and family is part of normal life.?

To find out more about the Oxfordshire Carers? Forum, please call 01993 706651. You can also get advice from your nearest Carers? Centre: Banbury (01295) 264545, Oxford (01865) 205192, Didcot (01235) 510212.