AM hopes old and new can work together for carers
REGIONAL AM Suzy Davies has paid a visit to the new offices set up in Aberkenfig as a base for the Carers Trust of South East Wales (CTSEW) which has been awarded the contract to supply support services to carers throughout Bridgend.
Welsh Conservative Mrs Davies met chief executive Gareth Howells and his team of workers who will be delivering the service in the borough.
She was told staff were now in place and they have also exceeded the target of new carers that they were tasked with reaching.
Mrs Davies also received assurances from Mr Howells that they would work alongside the Bridgend Carers Centre which is located in Park Street, Bridgend, and would not want to replicate any of the services already provided.
Mrs Davies said: “There have been genuine concerns about the decision of the council to take away the contract from Bridgend Carers Centre after 20 years and give it to another organisation. It is certainly too valuable an asset to lose.
“But it seems to me that with goodwill on both sides, the new set-up can be made to work and both organisations can continue to work for carers without overlapping or duplicating services and also do some work together.
“The BCC centre in Park Street provides a valuable refuge for carers seeking some respite from their daily round of caring and staff there have many years of experience in providing the support they need.
“Also, CTSEW have many good ideas and have already identified communities in the borough where residents would like some support provided more locally. Perhaps a combination of the tried and tested with a healthy infusion of new blood and new thinking may yet be the best way to help those in Bridgend who carry out such vital work in caring for family members.”