An inspiring young carer from Sutton met the Princess Royal last week.

Kama Digance, 10, met Princess Anne when she visited Sutton Carer’s Centre to celebrate its 20th anniversary on January 18.

Kama is the youngest person at the centre and has cared for her mother since she was aged five.

She was allowed to take the afternoon off Devonshire Primary school, to hand over flowers to the Princess Royal.

She said: “The headteacher was going to let me have the day off but [Mum] made me go in.”

Kama’s older brother has Asperger’s syndrome and her mother, Lorraine Digance, 39, who has multiple disabilities said it worked like a triangle of support with each one supporting the other.

Mrs Digance who is sometimes bed-bound spoke of the sense of social isolation carers and the person they look after can feel, describing it as a “little island”.

She said: “It can feel like you are being left to rot.”

However, this is where Sutton Carer’s Centre and its dedicated volunteers come in.

Mrs Digance found it provided her family with practical and emotional help. This ranged from filling in forms to supporting her son when he was being bullied.

She said it was important to have someone from outside the family they could trust and the children were aware they could call the centre if they need to.

After an afternoon with the Princess and some cake provided by one of the volunteers, Kama and her mum left for brownies.

For many carers who met the Princess it was the first time they had been to the centre in Benhill Avenue because a lot of their support is based outside the centre.

The centre provides information, advice and advocacy, regular social and recreational activities, practical support such as training, as well as counselling, complementary therapies and peer support groups.

Lorraine MacLeod Stevens, the chief executive of Sutton Carers Centre said: “It was wonderful to receive such an honourable guest and the staff, volunteers and carers enjoyed meeting the Princess.

“We hope her visit will raise awareness about our presence in the community and that it will help people to identify themselves as carers so that they can access our support.”