Devoted carer wins national award

December 8, 2012 brain surgery, Carers

Saturday, December 8, 2012
7:30 AM

A SUFFOLK woman who has devoted most of her life to caring for her brain-injured brother has won national recognition for her commitment.

Tracy Beckingham, 48, from Leiston, was presented with the Headway Carer of the Year award for giving round-the-clock care to her brother Darren, has lived with severe brain injury since being knocked off of his bike in 1986.

Aged 15, he spent ten weeks in hospital before being returned home to Ipswich, where his family assisted him in relearning the most basic of functions like swallowing.

Tracy was 21 when the accident happened, but she immediately dedicated her life to helping her mother look after Darren, feed him, bathe him, assist with his rehabilitation exercises, and give him with love and support.

Tracy eventually moved out of the family home, and Darren now has help from care support workers, but she continues to visit each morning, despite living 30 miles away and working full time.

She also stays over one night a week to provide Darren with the round-the-clock care he requires, in addition to looking after him at the weekends, and allowing her mother Margaret.

Tracy said: “I really didn’t think I would win. There were so many emotional stories of other people nominated.

Cash-strapped customers can buy Christmas card stamps at reduced prices under new Royal Mail scheme

December 8, 2012 Carers, family, Older care

Cash-strapped customers can now buy their Christmas card stamps at reduced prices under a new scheme from the Royal Mail.

By Laura Pullman

PUBLISHED: 01:14, 5 December 2012 | UPDATED: 13:51, 5 December 2012

Helping hand: Leaflets have already been sent to every home in the UK explaining who is eligible, along with a voucher

Cash-strapped customers can now buy their Christmas card stamps at reduced prices under a new scheme from the Royal Mail.

The Christmas stamp scheme allows those in receipt of Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Unemployability Supplement to buy up to 36 first and second-class stamps at 2011 prices — 46p and 36p.

So, if you brought 36 first-class stamps with the scheme, you would make a saving of £5.04.

Helping hand: Leaflets have already been sent to every home in the UK explaining who is eligible, along with a voucher

However, you can receive the discount over only one transaction. The scheme runs until December 24.