Founder of Helping Hands retires

After single-handedly starting Helping Hands in Alcester which now employs almost 500 people nationally, the founder has decided to retire.

Mary Lee, from Cleeve Prior, has just turned 60 and has run Helping Hands, which offers care to enable older or people with disability to remain in the comfort and privacy of their own homes, since 1989. But Mary now feels it is time to pass on the torch.

Having previously worked in Social Services Mary started working out of one room and was on her own for two years building up the business. Being on call with no other staff to support her was challenging, particularly without mobile telephones.

When the Government introduced Care in the Community in 1993, local councils could delegate care service arrangements to private companies and the firm took off.

Mary said "We now have three blocks of offices in Alcester, Warwickshire and our own training centre. I'm very proud of what we've achieved in 18 years, I feel we're doing something worthwhile and making a difference to people's lives"

Helping Hands is now run by a senior management team which includes Mary's sons.