The Princess Royal Trust Fife Carers' Centre will open their new premises at 157 Commercial Street, Kirkcaldy at an event to thank funders who have enabled the centre to expand to provide more services and support to carers in Fife.

Anne Haddow, a carer who was part of the group which established the original carers’ centre project back in 1996, will cut the ribbon of the new building at 2pm on Friday 15 June.

The Lord Lieutenant of Fife, Mrs Margaret Dean, will speak at the opening. Mrs Dean’s first official engagement as Lord Lieutenant of Fife was the opening of the previous centre by HRH the Princess Royal and she has remained a staunch supporter of the centre since then.

For Mary Stewart, Manager of the carers’ centre, this is a day of celebration after a year of very hard work to buy the building and get the renovation work under way. She says: ‘The new, expanded carers’ centre will enable us to offer more services to more carers across Fife, with space for private informal counselling, meetings, much needed alternative therapies and training sessions.’

The £250,000 project to purchase and renovate the new building was achieved thanks to a substantial Future Builders grant from Communities Scotland and another from the Coalfield Regeneration Trust. Grants were also received from the Robertson Trust, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and the Russell Trust.

Elaine McGonigle, Director of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, says: "This much needed new carers’ centre is the product of determined hard work on the part of Mary Stewart, the staff and the Board of Directors, who now have the opportunity to develop even further the excellent work they undertake to support carers."

The Princess Royal Trust Fife Carers’ Centre was established as a project in 1996 and is currently in contact with around 2,000 carers. The carers’ centre works closely with health and social work professionals to raise awareness of carers and to promote early identification and support for carers. Now that the space is available, the centre plans to expand the staff team of four to develop more services for carers across Fife.

The Princess Royal Trust Fife Carers’ Centre provides information, advice and practical support to carers of all ages all over Fife, no matter what their circumstances. The centre is based at 157 Commercial Street, Kirkcaldy, and can be contacted on 01 592 642 999.