Two speakers discuss maintenance loans and charity SANDS at Honiton Carers meeting

The first speaker was Ellie Lister from Wessex Resolutions CIC, who is a community lender working in partnership with local councils to fund the expense of maintaining one's home.

They are located in Taunton and work with the local councils to take the stress out of funding repairs, improvements or adaptions to the home.

Contact can either be through Wessex Solutions or the local council.

Loans of £1,000 to £15,000 are available and everyone receives the same interest rate regardless of circumstances.

You can chose your own contractor, but if requested the council will recommend one for you. There is no age restriction, nor is it means tested.

The second speaker was June Keith who gave a talk about SANDS (still birth and neonatal death society,) founded in 1978 as a charity.

The society supports anyone affected by the death of a baby, working to improve bereavement care and promoting research to reduce the loss of babies lives.

June explained how she got involved with this charity after seeing an advert in the dentists asking for postage stamps.

She started collecting stamps and also put a poster up in the library asking people to save and donate their stamps. These are collected once a month and taken to the dentist for onward transmission.

She also went onto the charity website where she found a knitting pattern for baby blankets which the charity also needed.

The blankets are required for their "never to be forgotten" memory boxes, which contain two small teddies, cards and more, which are given to every bereaved family to keep.

June said her purpose was to encourage people to donate their stamps and also to visit various Knit and Natter groups to encourage them to knit the baby blankets.

All the blankets have to be in white double knit wool. Anyone unable to knit, could if they wish, donate some wool instead.

Winnie Cameron thanked Ellie Lister and June Keith for their very interesting and informative talks and a lively social followed.

For further information regarding Honiton Carers Support Group please contact Winnie Cameron on [email protected] or phone 07974 636926.

The next Carers meeting will take place on Wednesday 12th February when we have a Sleep & Relaxation workshop with a Devon Carer trainer.