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Trustees and Staff

quick link to staff
Annette Baker – Chair click here to go the top of the page

 

Annette has three children, the youngest of whom has Down’s syndrome. Annette is a regular attendee at the MCF forum meetings and is a member of the Carers Strategy Meeting Group. Annette has encouraged numerous 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’.

 
   
Gaynor Morgan - Deputy Chair click here to go the top of the page

Gaynor has been a carer for over 20 years and a member of Manchester Carers Forum for nearly five years. She cares for her two sons, one who has a learning disability and the other who has substance misuse problems. She has received a lot of support from being a member of the Forum and she would now like to use her experience and acquired knowledge of being a trustee to support other carers with their caring roles.

 

Sue Samson - Deputy Chair

Susan has retired from her paid work as a Local Authority officer working in the area of equipment and adaptations. As she cares for both her sister and her granddaughter who both have very different care needs, she finds that her retirement is pretty FULL!. As well as becoming a trustee of MCF Susan is a board member of a local learning disability charity. Susan is committed to working to improve the lives of carers by advocating on their behalf in a variety of places. Her experience of working within the Local Authority is of great benefit to the Forum and she looks forward to being able to continue to work to bring about improvements for both carers and those for whom they care

 

 
Denise Jackson click here to go the top of the page

 

Denise cares for her daughter who has a learning disability. Her daughter is now 50 years old and lives at home with Denise. As well as caring for her daughter, Denise used to care for her mother before her death over ten years ago. It was around the time of her mothers death that Denise became aware of MCF. In the past Denise has been on some of the MCF breaks and training courses and she found that they made a 'life saving' difference to her. Up until recently Denise had been involved with the running of a social club called 'The Open Door' but sadly this has now ceased to exist and so she has additional time on her hands and she would like to use this time productively by being a trustee with MCF.

 

 
Anne Billington click here to go the top of the page
   

As a carer, Anne is aware of the constant struggle that carers face to get what they were entitled to. Anne believes that it is OK for service providers and commissioners to tell carers what is available to them but they rarely tell carers that they will still have to fight and struggle to get these things. It is only with the help of places like Manchester Carers Forum that carers may be able to change this and make it easier for ALL carers to get their entitlements and not just an elite few who happen to ask the right people at the right time. Anne hopes that by being part of the MCF team, she can help make it possible for as many carers as possible to access the services that they are entitled to.

 
   
Melvyn Sandler click here to go the top of the page
   

Over many years Melvyn has been caring for various members of his family and over the past 8 years he and his wife have been jointly caring for his mother who is now aged 86. Melvyn and his wife found that their caring role increased in intensity following his mothers hip replacement as she became housebound and increasingly dependent on their help and support. As the intensity and the level of care increased, the realisation hit Melvyn and his wife that they as carers also needed care. Melvyn has been a member of MCF for over 12 months and during this time he has been impressed with the sterling service the organisation provides to carers.

 

Melvyn has in the past worked in various roles where it has been necessary to listen to people, make decisions and see actions through to completion.

With his involvement at the Forum he has seen first hand how MCF helps carers to continue with their demanding and often unrecognised contribution to society. Melvyn would like to keep MCF growing from strength to strength and he hopes to bring new ideas to MCF and support the ongoing works.

Linda Sowden – Advisor to the Board

Linda is a founding member of Manchester Carers Forum and has been involved since its first meeting in 1993. Linda cares for her uncle who has had cerebral palsy. 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 a 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

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

 

Together with the Board of Trustees, Dave has responsibility  for  the 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 of working groups. Dave negotiates contracts with Funders and has overlooks 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 with regard to all Education & Leisure services and he has the responsibility over all financial matters. Rick also takes the lead with organising group breaks for carers and takes the lead with negotiating costings with various service providers to ensure that Manchester carers receive excellent services that stay within MCF's budget.

Email: Rick Mitchinson

 

 

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

 

Nat also began working at MCF on the 18th of September 2006. Nat has the responsibility of developing current carers support groups and to create new opportunities where a need has been identified. He also plays a significant role in organising leisure and education activities for carers such as the Carers Book Club, the Moving and Handling course and the Carers Allotments Project

Email: Nat O'Brien

 

       
 
 
       
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

manchester carers forum, advice for carers, carers breaks, support