I AM writing to offer help to carers or people with disabilities who are readers of this newspaper.

Many carers in this area provide full time care - 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. It is tiring, but essential work. Even so, some carers NEVER get time off.

Experience shows that such carers are much more likely to become ill, depressed and physically exhausted than other people. Some, through stress, become seriously ill themselves.

That's why respite - time off from caring is so important. For many carers a respite break isn't a luxury, it is a necessity! Since 1995, carers have been entitled to their own assessment of needs from their local Social Services. But not everyone is aware of their rights or knows how to get respite care.

That's why December 6 to 12 is Respite Care Awareness Week. The aim is to make carers and people with disabilities more aware of respite care.

The week is sponsored by Thomson Local and organised by the Winged Fellowship Trust - a national charity which provides respite breaks for people with severe physical disabilities.

A consumers' guide to respite care will has now been published. Single copies of the guide are free to readers of this newspaper. To obtain a copy of the guide, send a large stamped envelope to: Respite Care Awareness Week, 23b New Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2PH, or ring us on 01722 413277.

With best wishes

S Tough

pp Paul Sample?

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.