Carers in Hertfordshire’s chief executive Sue Reeve is retiring at the end of June after leading the charity for 19 years.

It was Ms Reeve’s dream to form a new charity run largely by and for unpaid family and friend carers to give them a voice in society and a platform to be heard.

Carers in Hertfordshire was formed in 1995 with just four staff members committed to making carers count by ensuring they can get the support they need.

Now, 19 years on, her dream has become a reality and Carers in Hertfordshire is the county’s leading carer charity supporting 12,500 carers with a team of 35 staff and more than 100 volunteers.

Ms Reeve said: "We have lobbied for more rights but in the tangled world of health and social care too many continue to miss out. The biggest challenge remains to make it easier for carers to get the support they need."

This challenge will be taken up by Ms Reeve's successor Michele Stokes who will be joining Carers in Hertfordshire on Monday, June 2 for a month’s handover before Ms Reeve retires on June 27.

A Hertfordshire resident, Ms Stokes has worked for the past 10 years as Executive Director of Haringey Women’s Forum and acted as Chair of Haringey’s Domestic Violence Operational Group.