DEVONSHIRE Freemasons has agreed to donate £12,966 over three years to "Unite Carers in Mid Devon".

The charity is based in Tiverton and was started in 2003 with the express intention of supporting unpaid carers of all ages.

It offers, through its magnificent team of volunteers, advice, free counselling, IT support, form filling, telephone outreach and home visits.

As well as a one-to-one befriending service it also runs 15 support groups where carers can meet others in similar circumstances for discussion, advice and companionship.

It runs a monthly memory café where dementia sufferers and their carers can meet in a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere and provides a "safe stop sitting service" three times-a-month where loved ones can be left in a safe and stimulating environment whilst the carer enjoys much respite from their caring role.

It offers a seasonal outdoor group in a forest school setting for children with additional needs and their families, giving them a quiet and safe environment away from mainstream adventure playgrounds and enabling interaction between children with similar needs.

Currently the charity helps around 325 carers with its group of 57 volunteers.

Face-to-face meetings are especially important as it helps to reduce the sense of isolation in some very rural locations.

The Charity needs more than £100,000 a year to operate, and all of that is raised through grant applications and private donations.

Anthony Eldred (Charity Steward, Devonshire Freemasons): “With a significant increase of care taking place in the home and community, often by young people, it is important not to forget that carers themselves need to be supported and valued.

"Unite Carers takes on this challenge and Devonshire Freemasons, through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, is delighted to support this vital service.”

Sharon Trerise (General Manager, Unite Carers in Mid Devon): “On behalf of Unite Carers I would like to thank Devonshire Freemasons for their very generous grant over the next three years which will be used towards the running costs of the charity providing our much needed services to unpaid carers in Mid Devon.”