Voluntary Sitters says handing over the service it provided for more than 15 years to new contractors Prospect Housing Association (PHA) on Monday is like a bereavement'.

Worries the transition is going to be less than smooth will be heightened as less than half of the Voluntary Sitters will give their support to PHA, which will now be responsible for giving Sutton carers a break.

After a number of protests and emotional council meetings in September when volunteers said they felt tossed aside', Sutton Council decided it would be in the carers' best interests to hand the responsibility over to PHA.

Jenny Sparrow, the co-ordinator for Voluntary Sitters, which planned to work in partnership with Crossroads to provide the service, said: "At the moment we feel like we have suffered a bereavement but I am pleased nearly half of the volunteers are going over to Prospect."

(PHA) moved into Sutton Carers Centre yesterday while the Voluntary Sitters had an open day enabling them to get together for the last time.

Only 36 of the 75 volunteers decided to continue working under PHA while others are either going to help carers as a friend or move on completely.

Scheme co-ordinator for PHA Angela Bailey said: "We are looking into finding an alternative by gaining other volunteers or by using employed members of staff."

A spokesman for Sutton Council said: "We are satisfied the transfer of service is going smoothly."

November 16, 2001 11:02