Kindness helps teen to flourish in the kitchen

From family carer to rising chef, Kylie Carruthers’ route to the Bailiffgate Hotel captures the spirit of opportunity behind Northumberland’s newest luxury hotel. SAM WONFOR reports

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> Kylie Carruthers with head chef Paul Blakey

EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD Kylie Carruthers never imagined her future would be in a professional kitchen.

For most of her teenage years, she'd planned to work in health and social care; a natural choice, perhaps, for someone who had been caring for her father since she was 12.

But when the opportunity arose to join the team at the newly opened Bailiffgate Hotel in Alnwick, she discovered a whole new passion - one that’s now shaping her career and her confidence in ways she never expected.

“When my dad had his accident at work and lost his leg, everything changed overnight,’ says Kylie, who lives with her family in Shilbottle, a 10-minute drive from the hotel.

“One week he was fine and working - he was a carpet fitter - the next he was in hospital and sepsis had taken his leg.

“Suddenly I had to grow up fast. I helped him with physio, made sure he was eating properly, took care of his medication - all while trying to keep up with school. It was a lot.”

Her role as a young carer meant she rarely had time to think about her future. But with the support of Carers Northumberland, a charity that helps unpaid carers across the county, Kylie began to find her footing again.

She joined the charity's young carers programme, which offered trips, meetups and one-to-one sessions with support coordinator Anne-Marie Johnstone, who helped her to explore life beyond caring.

“I'd started a part-time job as a waitress at a local pub, and one day they asked if I'd like to help in the kitchen,’ Kylie says. “I was nervous, but I gave it a go - and it tuned out I loved it. I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed cooking.”

Kylie’s connection to Bailiffgate first came through Debra Blakey, chief executive of the charity and wife of the hotel's executive head chef, Paul Blakey. Debra was aware the new hotel was preparing to open and was recruiting staff.