Mother issues thanks to the Beehive Day Centre in Poole

Clare Dunbar has praised the carers at the Beehive Day Centre in Poole after they volunteered their spare time to care for severely disabled son, Joe.

Clare had been preparing for an upcoming operation and was desperately seeking carers to look after Joe whilst she recovered.

She said: “The ladies from the Beehive Day Centre said they’d step in, and even some from the office.

“When they told me, it brought tears to my eyes.”

Joe, 24, was born with cerebral palsy, and since leaving school, has been cared for at the Diverse Abilities Beehive Day Centre for five days a week.

When he is not at the day centre, he is cared for by his mother, but following her recent diagnosis of skin cancer, extra help was needed.

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Clare said: “The doctor told me I need to have the cancer removed and for eight days after my operation, I won’t be able to lift, move or handle my son.

“The care I needed for the eight days could not be found in full by continuing healthcare (CHC), so they were saying I’d have to think about Joe going into residential.

Clare Dunbar with son Joe (Image: Clare Dunbar)

“The staff knew I’d say no to that- Joe has never slept one night away from home.”

To avoid Joe going into residential care, the ladies at Beehive volunteered to help him at home in the morning, take him to the Beehive Centre, and then return with him for care in the evening.

Although the operation didn’t go ahead as initially planned, and the eight-day care wasn’t needed, Clare remains incredibly grateful for the kind offers from carers Jen, Carly, Stacey, Clair, Hannah I, Hannah D, Leah, Kim, Ina, Georgie, Megan and Chelsey.

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Clare said: “The carers have families and some live miles away, but each and everyone was happy to do it.

“It’s the fact that they were prepared to do it, and it wasn’t a big thing to them, but as a single parent, I want to get across how massive that was for me and my son.”

Chelsey Mills, manager at the Beehive Day Centre, said: “We’ve just got an amazing team at the moment, they’re completely committed to the individuals that they support, and willing to go the extra mile and go above and beyond the duties they are paid for.

“It’s completely selfless. I couldn’t ask any more of our staff.”