Inspired by her work as a nurse, a 25-year-old has launched her own company offering personalised care in the community.

Anneka Hammond set up a franchise of Bluebird Care around four weeks ago and has since employed six staff who visit elderly and disabled people in Barking and Dagenham.

“We offer a variety of services from personal care to shopping visits,” said Anneka. “We have an old fashioned approach, in the sense that we make sure the person we’re working with is put first and gets the service they want.”

Anneka has worked as a nurse, is a qualified social worker and has also cared for her grandmother. She said: “It was this experience that made me want to set up my own company. I wanted to use what I’d learnt and seen to help people in the community while also running my own business.”

“I wasn’t going to run a franchise,” she added. “But then I found out about Bluebird Care and I really liked what they stood for. It’s also good to have a name that people recognise and trust.”

For more information on Bluebird Care Barking and Dagenham, in Wakering Road, Barking, call 020 8591 1200.