A MOTHER who cares for her daughter with multiple learning difficulties has praised the work of a charity which offers her a lifeline.
Catherine De Haas, of London Road, Northwich, provides lifelong care to 18-year-old Johanna, who suffers from profound learning disabilities and is in a wheelchair.
But the 49-year-old mother-of-two is just one of an estimated 13,000 people in Vale Royal who provide unpaid care every week. Of those, a staggering 2,700 unsung heroes offer care for 50 hours or more.
For Catherine and others in her position, there is help close at hand in the form of the Cheshire Carers Centre, based on Albion Way in North-wich, a county-wide charity offering information, advice and support to those who look after somebody with a disability, illness or frailty.
Catherine has been taking advantage of the charity's services since it opened in 1995, and says it offers her both the opportunity to meet people in the same situation and vital help.
She said: 'It's a place where you know that if you go and ask for information they will do their best to find out. You can ask them where is good to take a disabled family member on holiday, or where you can buy second-hand disability equipment, and if you have equipment to sell they will help you. It's incredibly useful for support.'
Johanna is a pupil of the Russett School in Weaverham. Catherine said:
'As a parent I'm a carer for life but for some people it might just be for part of their life.
'What I have to do is more than you would ordinarily expect to do in a lifetime. It can take a long time to feed Johanna - between one-and-a-half and two hours - and she has and will be like that all her life.'
Day-to-day access issues around Northwich are still an issue for mother and daughter.
Catherine said: 'When I'm walking up Northwich's High Street with the wheelchair, people don't realise you are pushing 13 stone up a hill - it's extremely hard work.
'Issues like a lack of ramps and narrow doorways make life difficult unnecessarily because it's something that could easily be solved. There is
still a long way to go - and with people's attitudes too, which make it difficult for able-bodied children if they are brought into a world which doesn't understand the issues.'
Catherine also uses the centre to organise music therapy events and other fundraising events for MENCAP, and attends its regular carers days, which offer both advice and a break for hard-working family members. The most recent was held at Portal Golf and Country Club near Cotebrook.
Spokeswoman Caroline Hebbleth-waite said: 'The main aim was to give them some time out from their often exhausting lives by taking part in activities like creative writing, the art of storytelling, digital photography, relaxation and beauty therapy, handmade cards and even belly-dancing.'
Catherine said: 'The carers days are good opportunities to be with other carers. Otherwise you can feel isolated so it's doing a good job of breaking down feelings of isolation.' nThe next carers day at Portal is on Monday, May 8. Call 0800 085 0307 to book a place.
