SIXTY people attended the official opening of a charity’s office in the centre of Skipton.

Carers’ Resource, which gives emotional and practical support to more than 13,000 carers, moved to Ronaldsway House at 36 Brook Street, last month from its previous base at Broughton Hall.

Twenty carers and 40 professionals from across health and social care and various local charities were given a tour of the building, met staff and volunteers to find out more about Carers’ Resource services and looked at work created by a carers’ art group.

A ribbon across the front door was cut by the youngest and oldest unpaid carers that the charity supports in the area - Edward Rhodes, eight, from Horton-in-Ribblesdale, and Brian Eskriett, 89, from Skipton.

Brian said afterwards that caring for his wife of 68 years is a “24/7 responsibility”.

He said: “I do the cooking, washing, cleaning and ironing.

“I do everything, and I don’t get much time away from my caring role.

“Carers’ Resource has been a lot of help and awarded me a wellbeing grant.

“I bought a CD player with the money so I can listen to audiobooks.”

Edward is one of 80 young carers in Craven who is supported by the Young Carers and Families team at Carers’ Resource.

He said: “ I feel really happy about cutting the ribbon.

“I like Carers’ Resource because we get to do lots of fun things and go to interesting places, like when we went to an adventure playground which had a labyrinth.”

The charity’s head of service for Craven Candy Squire-Watt said: “We now have a carers’ activity room and two interview rooms, which means there is so much more we can offer.

“The official opening has helped us to get some really useful feedback from people we work with and alongside as to how best we can use these great facilities.”

The refurbishment of the carers’ activity room and the furniture in it was paid for using a generous donation from grant-giving charity in Skipton, the Tarn Moor Estate.

Its chair of trustees Brian Phillip attended the open day and said: “ I’m delighted that the grant provided has been put to such good use.”

The interview rooms were furnished using money kindly donated by the Rotary Clubs of Skipton and Skipton Craven, while Craven Cllr Andy Solloway used some of his annual locality budget to fund furniture.

Cllr Solloway, who has experience of caring responsibilities, said: “These offices are at a great location and more accessible to reach as they are close to the town centre and near public transport links.

“Unpaid carers are the backbone of the social care system. They need support and help.

“Where would we be without them?”

Carers’ Resource chair of trustees David Harbourne spoke at the event about his experience of being a carer and the value of Carers’ Resource.

He said about the early days of caring for his wife, who had Huntington’s disease: “With help from them I made an emergency plan, which would be used if I was taken ill, as my wife would still need looking after.

“The work that we do is so important to me and it has been such a delight to see the organisation grow and develop.”