Spotlight... on Sunderland
Spotlight... on Sunderland
11.01.10
Bringing you stories from around the regions our spotlight features showcase the good work, achievements and ideas coming from Caring with Confidence Providers in reaching out to carers in their area.
Carers from across Sunderland who have been taking part in the Caring with Confidence programme, came back together at a reunion supported by local MP, Sharon Hodgson.Sunderland Carers Centre, who run the Caring with Confidence sessions in Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside organised the event to give the carers the opportunity to get back together and share how they are putting into practice what they gained from the programme.
The event was opened by Sharon Hodgson, Labour MP for Gateshead East and Washington West who is supporting the programme. She said: “It was great to meet so many carers at the reunion event and hear how the Caring with Confidence sessions had such positive outcomes for so many of them. Their caring experiences are so varied but the carers I spoke to picked up small hints and tips which collectively had a huge impact on their caring role.”
Kevin Devine, Caring with Confidence Co-ordinator said: “Just listening to the carers talk at the reunion event reminded me about the importance of the sessions, not only offering carers a safe and supportive environment to explore information and services available to them, but how much they make strong friendships and learn so much from each other in an informal, fun and friendly way.”
One carer to have benefited from the Caring with Confidence sessions and whose experience is typical of other carers who have taken part in the programme so far, is Simon Metcalf. Simon commented: “The Caring with Confidence programme of small but informal sessions was both uplifting and well prepared by the staff who delivered it. It gave me the knowledge to be able to confront most of the situations that I will come across as a carer.”
The programme has proved to be so successful in Sunderland that the sessions are being rolled out in Washington and Hetton.
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Photo caption: (From left to right) Sharon Hodgson (Labour MP for Gateshead East and Washington West) with carers Simon Metcalf and Alan Lindsley.