We are in training as this challenge will not be easy both physically and mentally.

We do have one space left to join the team so if you think you have what it takes please contact Paul Parlby on paul@gmcrossroads.co.uk

This challenge will be taking place during Carers Week 2012 to help raise awareness for carers.

If you would like to support this challenge but from the comfort of your own home details of how to sponser us will be posted closer to the time so watch this space!

Do you like driving?

 Can you spare some time to help us support disabled children?

 Crossroads Care in Greater Manchester would welcome your help.

At Crossroads we run a number of projects providing activities and trips out for disabled children and adults.

 The trips mainly involve midweek and weekend visits to venues around the Greater Manchester area, sometimes further afield.  Typically this involves anything from a couple of hours or sometimes trips can involve a whole day should you be available.

 All activities and trips are always accompanied by our Care Support Workers.

 We need volunteer drivers who:-

Passed their driving test before January 1997 and under 70 years old

Are comfortable working alongside disabled children and adults

Are willing to undertake an advanced Criminal Records Bureau check to ensure the safety of our clients.

Are willing to undertake a short in-house minibus driving familiarisation session.

 For further information contact  Shirley Timms, Project Co-ordinator on 0161 787 9002 or email shirley@gmcrossroads.co.uk

A BIG thank you to everyone that has donated their clothes, books, DVDs and bric-a-brac, as well as to the wonderful volunteers for their time in getting the shop up and running.

Please come along to the shop to help support our new venture.  The shop is open Monday- Saturday 10am-4pm, and can be found below our Trafford Offices (9 Marsland Road, Sale Moor, M33 3HP).

We are also still in need of donations and volunteers so if you have any items to donate or you could spare a few hours of your time each week please come and see us in the shop or contact our shop manager- Lynda O’Gorman on 0161 905 1986 or email lynda@gmcrossroads.co.uk.

 Help support carers in your local area by volunteering in or donating your unwanted Christmas gifts to a brand new charity shop opening in Sale Moor.

This is our first charity shop, and the success of the shop will rely on the support of local people. Volunteers are needed to help with stock control, window dressing and running the till, as well as helping with promoting the shop.

The shop will sell clothes, accessories and household goods, with all profits going to Crossroads Care in Greater Manchester to help fund its valuable work with local carers.

Volunteering is a fantastic way to learn new skills; meet new people and a way to give something back to community in which you live. If your able to spare any time volunteering in the Crossroads Care charity shop please contact our Shop Manager Lynda O’Gorman on 07872400637 or email lynda@gmcrossroads.co.uk

Experience isn’t necessary but if you do have retail experience we will put it to good use.

 We are also relying on the generosity and goodwill of people and are always grateful to accept donations to sell in the shop.

 Crossroads Care is to set up shop at 9 Marsland Road and will open for business in January 2012.

His wife has dementia and is registered blind. He works full time nights but these are staggered and other organisation could not meet his or his wife’s needs and he was being forced to consider giving up his job.

During the assessment it was clear that he needed to continue to work full time both for economic reasons but for social and mental well being.

Crossroads was able to identify a Carer Support Worker to provide flexible overnight support.

Reviews of the service led to an occasional increase in hours to enable the carer to visit friends and family before going on to work.

More recently the carer became depressed following the death of his mother and Crossroads were able to support him through this with emotional support through his regular support worker.

Crossroads intervention achieved the following outcomes for Kevin:

• He is able to continue in full time employment.
• He was sensitively supported during is recent bereavement.
• He can continue to maintain social and family networks.
• He is confident that the care needs of his wife are being met.
• He now has a positive view of support services.

The daughter became increasingly concerned as she witnessed her mum in a distressed tearful state after her father had been shouting at her.

Linda decided to part fund the cost of the respite and Crossroads began providing a service to the carer who used the service on an ad hoc basis initially but came to trust the regular support worker who attended. He then began to use the service more frequently and became more relaxed and aware of his own stress levels and the need to take some time off to relax.

The family now receive a funded service on a weekly basis to meet his own needs.

The daughter has seen the difference the services has made and is now more confident in her father’s coping abilities and no longer fears a breakdown in the caring situation.

We now have a dedicated Fundraising Committee who will be constantly organising events throughout the year to help fund the Crossroads services in Salford, Trafford, Stockport, Bolton, Rochdale and Oldham.

See a list of our up and coming events below.

If you would like to be more involved please contact Paul Parlby using the contact us section of the website.

We are in training as this challenge will not be easy both physically and mentally.

We do have one space left to join the team so if you think you have what it takes please contact Paul Parlby on paul@gmcrossroads.co.uk

This challenge will be taking place during Carers Week 2012 to help raise awareness for carers.

If you would like to support this challenge but from the comfort of your own home details of how to sponser us will be posted closer to the time so watch this space!