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| Linda Sowden – Chair |
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Linda
is a founding member of Manchester Carers Forum and
has been since its first meeting in 1993. Linda cares
for her uncle who has had cerebral palsy for 28 years.
Before Manchester Carers Forum’s (MCF) creation,
Linda regarded Social Services in an extremely unfavorable
light but over the years MCF has worked to bring down
barriers and improve life for carers. Manchester Carers
Forum has given Carers a voice and sense of belonging,
so that they are a force to be reckoned with. We have
made progress through careful negotiation instead of
banging on tables and shouting at statutory agencies.
We will continue to make progress and improve life for
carers.
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| Mary Shaw – Deputy
Chair |
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Mary
has been a Carer for 40 years and is currently the deputy
chair of Manchester Carers Forum. Mary is fully committed
to her position as a trustee and she has been very active
during the time she has spent as a member of the Management
Committee. Mary is a founding member of MCF since its
inception in 1993. She fully believes in the work that
MCF does in helping carers to recognise their worth.
Mary represents carers on various committees and understands
the issues that revolve around caring. Mary’s
experiences as a carer and a committee member have enabled
her to communicate with carers and support them wherever
possible.
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| Annette Baker – Deputy Chair |
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Annette
has three children, the youngest of whom has Down’s
syndrome. Annette has been a carer for 8 years and is
a regular attendee at the MCF forum meetings; she is
also a member of the Carers Strategy Meeting Group.
Annette has encouraged over 30 carers to become members
of MCF and these people have enjoyed all the care, encouragement
and information that have been made available to them
from the forum. Although Annette is a parent carer of
a young child, her education about carers has included
all the different kinds of caring that is done in the
home, many of which go unnoticed. Annette believes that
MCF will be the voice that helps to change many aspects
of a carer’s life. Annette feels strongly about
the rights of carers and is fully committed to Manchester
Carers Forum and its good work as the ‘Voice of
Carers’.
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| Jean Heald – Treasurer |
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Jean
has been a Carer for 30 years and a member of Manchester
Carers Forum for 7 years. Jean regularly attends Health
and Social Care meetings and has been involved in many
carers awareness promotions. Jean cares for her son
who was born with cerebral palsy and as a Management
Committee member she aims to bring more understanding
to carers of their needs. She would like to continue
to contribute in creating a better future for new and
existing carers. Jean has also undertaken training in
Management Committee and Trustee duties. She has good
communication skills and vast experience of liasing
with various statutory and non-statutory agencies. Jean
is committed to making MCF increasingly successful.
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| Gaynor Morgan |
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Gaynor
has been a carer for 20 years and a member of Manchester
Carers Forum for 1 year. She cares for her son
Barry who has learning disabilities and also her eldest
son who is a heroin addict. She has received alot
of support from being a member of the Forum, and would
like to give support to carers and also to implement
her experience of caring into practice along with the
skills that she has gained to show carers how to tackle
with caring situations.
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| Catriona Roussel |
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Prior
to Catriona's retirement she worked full time as a Housing
manager in a special needs housing association.
Soon after she stopped working her mother was diagnosed
with alzheimers disease and severe arthritis.
She came to live with Catriona in the year 2000 and
alongside her husband Catriona cared for her throughout
her deteriorating condition. Catriona decided
to become a trustee as she wanted to give something
back to the forum, as she along with her husband felt
very supported by all the folk at the forum all the
way through her caring role.
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| Staff |
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| Dave Williams – Project
Manager |
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Together
with the Board of Trustees, Dave has responsibility
for overall management of the
Forum and its staff . He is responsible
for the development of strategy and he works
with various partners and partner organisations
in both the statutory and voluntary sector in
the development of policy to address carer's needs.
He represents the Forum at local, regional and
national level on a variety working groups. Dave
negotiates contracts with Funders and has oversight
of the work of the Forum, reporting directly to
the Board of Trustees and executing their decisions.
He also works with the universities of
Manchester and Salford and contributes to their
Social Care Degree programmes.
Email:
Dave
Williams |
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| Rick Mitchinson- Assistant
Manager |
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Rick
takes the lead in enabling groups of carers to
access support services. He manages the work of
the Forum in the STAR stroke project, Withington
CARES Project and with the Wythenshawe Carers
Project. He is also responsible for organisation
around Education and Leisure Services to Carers.
He also has responsibility for the management
of the Forum's financial systems.
Email:
Rick
Mitchinson
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| Hugh Thorpe – Young
Carers Development Officer |
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Hugh leads the Young Carers Team at Manchester
Carers Forum, working to raise awareness
of the issues faced by young carers and the
support offered by Young & Unique. Hugh also
leads the strategic work relating to young carers so
that services and support can be improved in Manchester.
Hugh works to ensure that families, professionals
and young people are aware that they can access
a Young Carers Assessment through Young &
Unique. This is vital as a Young Carers Assessment
is the most effective way for young carers to
access support.
Email:
Hugh
Thorpe |
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| Khent Abraham - Young Carers
Mental Health and Development Worker |
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Khent
started at MCF on 18th September 2006. He is going to
carry out a baseline needs assessment of the mental
health needs of Young Carers. This is to identify and
develop services which are specifically and appropriately
targeted to the mental health needs of Young Carers.
This will be done in conjuction with other service providers.
Email:
Khent
Abraham
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