Calling all carers – help is on hand!

CARER’S Week – June 9-15 – will see Warrington Borough Council calling out to all carers across the town and letting them know about the support and help available.
The aim is to reach out to carers in the borough and let them known they are not alone and that there is help available.
“Reaching out to carers who feel isolated, rejected or feel they don’t get their voice heard is what we want to do” – those are the words of Wyn Higham, a member of the Carer’s Partnership Board, who has been a carer for the last 24 years.
She knows all about the difficulties carers face – and how the WIRED Adults and Young Carers Centre on Sankey Street can offer help including drop-in sessions, free counselling, therapy sessions, a newsletter, information and a range of social events people can get involved in.
Wyn has been husband Colin’s main carer since he suffered a brain haemorrhage and a stroke in 1990 aged 46.
She said: “What happened was devastating. Our main concern was Colin, his survival and well-being. One minute he was fine, the next our world was turned upside down. Nothing can prepare you for something like that happening. Colin spent a year in hospital and came home with a massive package of care and we received great support from all agencies, including our GP.”
Wyn added: “It was important to me along with other like-minded people to raise awareness of the needs of carers and I now sit on the Carers Partnership Board in Warrington. We want to reach out to carers who feel isolated or rejected. There are two carers on the Carers Partnership Board and we sit as independent people, we can take any reasonable views with us for consideration. We work closely with the council and other local agencies to look at support for carers, the issues they face, and how we can tackle these.
“There are lots of voluntary organisations in Warrington that provide support and 25 years ago we didn’t have this fantastic range of services. If we look back and think of how far we have come it’s incredible. It is just about making it as good as you possibly can for you, your family and the person you are caring for.”
Cllr Pat Wright, the borough council’s lead member for health, wellbeing and adult services, said: “We are absolutely committed to providing continuous help and support to local carers.
“It’s great to see a local figure like Wyn who has really campaigned to get the needs of carers recognised and we hope this encourages more carers to come forward and have their voice heard. We really do recognise the value and importance of their efforts and want other carers out there to know there is lots of support and help available if they need it.”
Information about support for carers is available at WIRED Adults and Young Carer’s Centre, 86 Sankey Street, Warrington, telephone 01925 442458 or email [email protected]
Pictured: Wyn and Colin Higham