Category Archives: Carers

“Do something you love. Disabled or not, it’s good for the soul!”

Jenny Brownlees is a freelance fashion journalist and stylist. She has ME, and went through a lot of tough times to get where she is now. One thing she found helped her was to follow her creative heart. Here she talks about her experiences.  

I was 16 when I became unwell. Enjoying life and school, becoming unwell in my teenage years hit me hard. I was very creative both in and outside of school. Happiest in art and textiles classes when doodling, making a mess, sewing, designing, I was obsessed with ‘making’ in all its forms. I loved every aspect of fashion and art. It meant so much to me, and was a huge part of my personal identity.

East Coast Truckers prepare for 30th anniversary of convoys to Pleasurewood Hills

For almost 30 years they have taken disabled and disadvantaged children on a day trip they will never forget.

The East Coast Truckers are at the Forum as they prepare for their 30th bank holiday convoy to Pleasurewood Hills on August 30.

Youngsters have been sitting in the trucks and having photos taken by parents, while history buffs are enjoying a photo display of Norfolk haulage companies from years gone by.

Warning of shortage of workers as cost of care rises sharply in region

Nurse and senior lady in a care home

People are shunning jobs in social care to work in supermarkets, leaving a shortfall in the army of workers needed to look after us in old age, it has been warned.

Dennis Bacon, chairman of care providers body Norfolk Independent Care, said the lack of respect for social care work has put people off joining the profession, leaving the industry with a middle-aged workforce which will not go on forever.

It is one of the factors pushing up annual care costs, which rose £2,912, or 9.4pc, in the East, leaving the region with the most expensive care homes for the first time. The average cost for a residential space is now £33,800 per year.