We have merged!

As of April 1 2012, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Care have merged to form a new carers charity called “Carers Trust”

The new charity will combine the knowledge, skills, expertise and experience of its founder charities and all of the independent Network Partners; Crossroads Care schemes and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers local carers’ centres.

Carers’ needs, choices and voices will remain at the heart of everything we do, as we strive to ensure that the enormous contribution they make to those they care for and to society is fully recognised, appreciated and valued.

Why have we merged?

As support for carers has always been at the heart of both of the founder charities, much of the work both the organisations did was complementary to each other. 

Crossroads Care schemes provide a range of services to the carer and person cared for through fully trained carer support workers who take over caring responsibilities, allowing carers to access vital breaks.

Carers’ centres are the central hub of activity for carers in their localities, providing information and emotional support, helping carers to access the services they need and working with carers to get their voices heard in planning services locally and beyond

To make these services effective, both centres and schemes work closely in their communities and with other professionals to make sure carers know there is help available.

We believe that working together is the right thing to do and will result in an organisation that is robust, sustainable and better able to support carers in the 21st century and deliver the services they need. It will help us to provide a united voice for carers which will enable us to continue to raise awareness of carers’ issues with government and policy makers.

What is changing for carers?

The merger will not change anything locally. Both charities’ networks will continue to provide support to carers under their local brands, and are not expected to merge locally at this point as a result of the national merger.

For further information or to find out more about the merge visit the new website for Carers Trust at www.carers.org.

click below to read more about research that has been done on the phlight of unpaid carers.

 Carers Trust Local Release

This exciting new venture is managed on a day to day basis by Lynda, our Shop Manager, who is supported by a new team of volunteers who come in and help out for a couple of hours each day.

New volunteers are always welcome, so please come along and introduce yourself if you think you may be interested in joining the team!

The shop is open Monday – Saturday 10am to 4pm and parking is ideal for people dropping off donations and calling in for a browse around. In the shop you will find a wide variety of good quality clothing, shoes, toys and games, books, DVDs, jewellery and bric-a-brac. If you have any donations of clean clothing or other items these will be greatly appreciated.

Come along and visit our new Charity Shop – we look forward to seeing you.

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.