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Trustees and Staff

quick link to staff
Linda Sowden – Chair click here to go the top of the page

 

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.

 

 
Mary Shaw – Deputy Chair click here to go the top of the page

 

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.

 

 
Annette Baker – Deputy Chair click here to go the top of the page

 

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’.

 

 
Jean Heald – Treasurer click here to go the top of the page

 

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.

 

 
Gaynor Morgan click here to go the top of the page

 

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.

 

 
Catriona Roussel click here to go the top of the page

 

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.   

 

 
Staff  
   
Dave Williams – Project Manager click here to go the top of the page

 

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

 

 

 
Rick Mitchinson- Assistant Manager click here to go the top of the page

 

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

 

 

   
 
Hugh Thorpe – Young Carers Development Officer click here to go the top of the page

 

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

 

Khent Abraham - Young Carers Mental Health and Development Worker click here to go the top of the page

 

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


   
Nathaniel O'Brien - Carers Information and Development Worker click here to go the top of the page

 

Nathaniel started at MCF on the 18th of September 2006. He is responsible for developing current carers support groups and to create new one where there is a need. He also hand in organising leisure and education activites for carers across Manchester.

 

Email: Nathaniel O'Brien

 

     
Rochelle Jones - Young Carers Development Worker click here to go the top of the page

 

Rochelle runs the monthly Young & Unique sessions where young carers are encouraged to have a voice whilst participating in an activity. This provides young carers with the opportunity to have a break from their caring role.

 

In addition, Rochelle completes Young Carers Assessment to enable young carers to access Young & Unique and ensure support services are in place to meet the young carers needs. Rochelle also refers onto other agencies including Connexions and counselling services when required.

 

Email: Rochelle Jones

 

   
Nicola Griffiths - Media and Communications Assistant click here to go the top of the page

 

Nicola's responsibility is to coordinate the work of the office and the Forum's publicity. This has included establishment and maintenance of the website, advertising campaigns and the formation of links with business in the community. Nicola Griffiths has been in this post since August 2006 .

 

Email: Nicola Griffiths

   
 

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