Celebrating twenty years in style!

24th October 2024

Wow! We’re so incredibly proud to have been working alongside so many incredible local people for two decades.
This month we’ve been celebrating our twentieth anniversary – a whole twenty years of supporting local carers in Blackburn with Darwen.

While the people we work alongside and our team work extremely hard day in, day out, they also know how to have fun. And we were thrilled to bring everyone together for an evening which was just that – fun and uplifting.

Our special celebration event, which took place on Saturday 12th October 2024 at Darwen Cricket Club Mostyn St, Darwen BB3 0AE was attended by more than 120 people. Many have been supported by our charity or have worked alongside us for many years and it was really humbling to see everyone join forces to raise a glass to this key moment in our history.

There was dancing, singing, lovely food – and delicious cake of course too – and plenty of chats about how our charity has been a part of the local community for two decades. Lots of photos were taken of everyone having fun!

It was only possible thanks to the support of lots of extremely generous local people and businesses who sponsored the event or donated raffle prizes or other items. As a charity we couldn’t do what we do without the kindness and generosity of others so we’re hugely grateful to everyone that helped.

As we continue our anniversary month and beyond, we’re really excited to both continue to look back and celebrate all that we’ve achieved but also to use it as an opportunity to look ahead.

When the service was set up in 2004 our aim was to change things for the better for local carers. That’s still at the heart of everything we do. All the decisions we make as a charity are rooted in that core aim and that won’t change.

Carers deserve access to the information they need, support in their community to help them achieve much-needed networks and connections; they need help to navigate the sometimes difficult financial or medical landscapes, social care or housing and benefits. There’s so much involved when caring for a loved one and we’re also there to help carers to know that making time for themselves is just as important as being there for others.

Each carer is an individual and we never forget that. Our specialist support ensures that each is given the help that is unique to their own situation and wishes. Our team of experts are on hand, whatever they may need. And, however long our charity is here, that will also remain at the centre of our work.

It’s still a challenging time for charities like ours, especially as demand for our services continues to grow as carers navigate the cost-of-living crisis and an ever-changing health, social and political landscape.

Funding remains difficult and we are always keen to work alongside partners, other organisations or individuals who might be able to support our work.

We’re excited and optimistic about the future too and can’t wait to move forward through the rest of our anniversary year and beyond.

We’ve big plans for the service and can’t wait to share with you.

If you’re not already signed up to our newsletter, why not do so now and we can keep you updated? Home – Blackburn with Darwen Carers Service (bwdcarers.org.uk)

Thanks again to everyone who joined us for our celebration or who helped make it possible with their kind support.

Our charity is a wide community of people and our work is only possible because so many people are part of that community. We don’t take that for granted and want to say a big THANK YOU to you all.

Here’s to the next twenty years…

More carers to access vital support thanks to Henry Smith Charity funding

17th October 2024

With the number of unpaid carers in Blackburn with Darwen continuing to grow, we’re celebrating a funding award which will mean more people locally can access vital support.

Our charity, which has been working alongside carers in the area for more than two decades, has been awarded £160,500 in funding over three years from The Henry Smith Charity to help improve the lives of local people.

Sam Morris, our CEO, said: “It’s amazing to have received such generous funding from The Henry Smith Charity to support our work and we estimate that it will help us to support between three and four thousand more people in Blackburn with Darwen.

“There are so many unpaid carers playing an extraordinary role in our community, and most are unsung heroes.  They go above and beyond, working many hours a day to support their loved one and for many this can be quite an isolating experience.

“We’re proud to work alongside so many amazing people to help them to arm themselves with the knowledge they need – whether financial, training, or via health and wellbeing work, there are so many ways that carers in our area require specialist support.

“This funding will mean that more carers can build connections and it will really help nurture positive, support networks. 

“Many feed back to us that their confidence has dropped since becoming a carer and that they feel alone or unsure of where to turn for help to assist both them and the person they care for. 

“This income will mean we’re able to really enhance our services to ensure we’re there for as many people as possible that need us – both in the short term if they are experiencing crisis, but also for the long-term too.”

Our charity provides a range of specialist support services and activities for those who provide unpaid care to a friend, family member or loved one. 

Services are personalised to the individual to ensure they are empowered with the information, skills and support needed to help them thrive both in their role as a carer, and as an individual with their own wishes and needs too.

The funding from The Henry Smith Charity will also help increase financial literacy and confidence of carers, enabling the team to facilitate sessions and tailored support which will increase the knowledge the carers have about their financial options and entitlements.

Sam said: “There are billions of pounds worth of unclaimed benefits and many people don’t really know where to start or even realise they might be entitled to much-needed support.  There are also often barriers around the complexities of making claims.

“This often leads to financial strain or difficulties, especially when the increased costs of living in a household where someone has a chronic illness or disability are taken into account. This all creates significant additional stresses that really shouldn’t be there and we’re committed to helping them navigate through the maze.

“With such a challenging role to fulfil, carers deserve fully rounded, holistic support and we’re proud that The Henry Smith Charity has seen that we’re perfectly placed to continue to be there for people in Blackburn with Darwen in the coming months and years. Thanks again to everyone involved.”

National Lottery award to help us support even more carers

14th October 2024

We’re celebrating following a National Lottery award from The National Lottery Community Fund which will help us to support even more people in Blackburn with Darwen.

Our charity has been supporting carers across the area for twenty years, and we’re delighted that we’ve been awarded the three years National Lottery award from The National Lottery Community Fund totalling £287,763, which will help to connect, support and empower carers in the local community.

Sam Morris, CEO of our charity, said: “There are so many people in Blackburn with Darwen who are caring for others and it’s vital they urgently receive ongoing help and support.

“In the two decades we’ve been working alongside local people we know how important it is to meet carers where they are.  To be beside them and to help them build local networks, as well as giving them practical assistance around finances, physical and mental health, activities and respite and other signposting and connections.

“It’s amazing to have received this funding from the National Lottery to help us provide truly holistic support to local carers.”

Our charity provides a wide range of specialist support services and activities for those who provide unpaid care to a friend, family member or loved one who couldn’t manage without their help.

Services are personalised to the individual to ensure they are empowered with the information, skills and support needed to help them thrive both in their role as a carer, and as an individual with their own wishes and needs too.

Sam added: “Many people don’t even see themselves as carers, but do have responsibility for supporting others every day.  We’re here to help them with whatever makes that role easier and importantly to help build and nurture connections and networks as many people feed back to us that they can often feel on their own or a bit lost.  We work alongside them to help build self esteem and ultimately to hopefully mean they are less isolated in what can be a very challenging and demanding role.

“The cost-of-living crisis has hit all of us hard and as a charity it’s always difficult to know what a huge need there is for services whilst also having to ensure donations and funding are still coming through the door to enable them to be delivered.

“This latest funding will help fund a carers adviser, activity coordinator, benefits worker, volunteer coordinator and other elements of our work, including counselling support for local people.  We can’t wait to see the impact on the lives of carers in Blackburn with Darwen and want to say thanks again to the National Lottery team for their ongoing belief in our specialist expertise and in enabling us to continue this important work.”

Thanks to the National Lottery award from The National Lottery Community Fund, carers will also be supported to attend groups, activities, trips and befriending sessions, as well as therapy, wellbeing and respite services.  The funding will also help carers and volunteers to gain new skills and share their experiences to improve places for them across the community. Our team at Blackburn with Darwen Carers Service will also be delivering increased numbers of carer assessments with local people, and will support increased benefit claims and appeals as well as crisis support. 

Thank you so much!

3rd October 2024

This month we’re holding a very special event celebrating the 20th anniversary of our service supporting local carers.
It’s such an exciting milestone in our history and we’re really proud that we’ve been working alongside so many fantastic local people for two decades.

The event, which will be taking place on Saturday 12 October at Brookhouse Aerospace Birch Hall Cricket Ground, Leven Grove, Darwen, BB3 0JS from 7pm until late, will include food, disco and dancing through the night. You can capture the moment in our photobooth and even enjoy entertainment from ITV Star Stuck’s Josh Hindle as he sings us through the decades.

There’s still time to secure a ticket or two so please get in touch to get yours:
01254 688440 / office@bwdcarers.org.uk

Events like this are only possible thanks to the kindness and generosity of local companies and individuals.

We’re really grateful to everyone below for supporting the event in lots of different ways. It will make the evening incredibly special for our carers and those closest to them, and we really appreciate the amazing support.

Supporters who have kindly helped with the event sponsorship include:
Mr and Mrs Ahmed and family
Exquisite Balloons
Laurence Lee & Co Solicitors
Lesar – Printers
Lynk Telecom
Mill Hill Gifts
P3 Computers
Sylvia Pearl

Thank you to all of the people and businesses who have supplied fantastic raffle prizes for the night too, including:
Belgrave BoutiqueBelgrave Carpets
Blackburn Empire Theatre
Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Market
Bonnies Sweets
Boutique by Vee
Café Expresso in Blackburn
Candy Rush in Darwen
Coffee Exchange
Cube HR
Darwen Carpets
Dixy Land Chicken in Darwen
Funny Girls – Blackpool
Golden Times in Darwen
Henson Hotel Blackpool
Iceland in Blackburn and Darwen
Janet Spencer
Jilly’s in Darwen
Lancashire Health and Well Being Centre
Master Textiles
Michael Strahan Barbers
Morrisons in Darwen
Nanny Clarks café
No 1 Coffee Shop
Number 17
Petal Florist
Pratts Sport Shop
Pro Print Solutions
Select

Shirly Anne @No 17T

Samlesbury Hotel

Stuart at No 17
Sunset Amore Boutique
Sylvia Pearl
The Emporium
Tiger Muffin Soaps
Timeless Fragrances

Xips Chip Shop Darwen

Thank you also to Enchanting Cakes who are providing delicious cupcakes for the celebration at a discounted rate. We can’t wait to try them!

We’re so lucky to be part of such a great local community. Thanks to everyone that has supported us and we can’t wait to share more news from the event soon.

Get your ticket for this special celebration now!

12th September 2024

In October we will be celebrating the 20^th anniversary of our service supporting local carers.  We’ll be holding a very special event and we’d love you to join us!

Twenty years is an exciting milestone in our history.

We’re really proud that we’ve been working alongside so many amazing local people over the last two decades, supporting individuals and families to help them to navigate what are often very challenging times.  We are privileged to have been there through the good and the not-so-good and it’s quite humbling to look back on what has been achieved and the incredible people we’ve met.

So many people have been part of the journey of our charity so far, and we know many more local people will be involved in the future too.  We are really excited as we approach this special anniversary to both look back and celebrate all that has happened, but also to use it as an opportunity to look ahead.

To mark the anniversary, we’re holding an event on Saturday 12 October and we’d love you to join us.

It’s at the Brookhouse Aerospace Birch Hall Cricket Ground, Leven Grove, Darwen, BB3 0JS from 7pm until late, and will include food, disco and dancing through the night.  You can capture the moment in our photobooth and even enjoy entertainment from ITV Star Stuck’s  Josh Hindle as he sings us through the decades.

The theme is pink and blue – our Carers Service colours! – and tickets are just £5 which includes five free raffle tickets for the evening as well.

Tickets are on sale now, so please get in touch to secure yours:

01254 688440 / office@bwdcarers.org.uk

Celebrating 20 years of our charity…

12th September 2024

In October we will be celebrating the 20^th anniversary of our service supporting local carers.  Here, our CEO, Sam Morris, reflects on why it’s such an exciting milestone in our history …

Twenty years ago the world looked very different – there was talk of a general election looming on the horizon, Manchester United won the FA Cup and children everywhere were loving watching Peppa Pig…okay, so maybe not all that different…

When the Blackburn with Darwen Carers Service was set up in 2004, we were adamant we wanted to change things for local carers for the better. 

We wanted to ensure they had better information, were able to find the advice they needed in a timely manner, and were able to be surrounded by a network of supportive like-minded people who knew just how important their caring role was. 

Most importantly, we wanted carers to know we saw them as individuals.  As people with their own wants and needs and people who, as well as providing support to others, also needed support themselves.

As we approach our 20^th anniversary, I’ve been reflecting on where we are as a charity now, and I’m proud to say that the overarching ethos and our values and aims have remained the same.  Two decades later, local carers are still at the heart of every decision we make.

We’re not complacent and we always look for ways we can improve, with our carers helping us to shape and mould our organisation to ensure it remains relevant and fit for the future too.

It’s a challenging time for many – demand for our services continues to grow as carers navigate the cost-of-living crisis and an ever-changing health, social and political landscape. 

Decisions made by key figures in London or even more locally can have a lasting impact on the real lives of people in our area and we want to make sure we can support them through the challenges they may face.

But, funding remains difficult and we are always keen to work alongside partners, other organisations or individuals who might be able to support our work.  Whether that’s by donating to help fund elements of our work, or by helping us continue to grow our networks, we are always thrilled to hear from people who want to get involved in what we do.

We’re excited and optimistic about the future too.  There are lots of ways we can continue to help carers in Blackburn with Darwen and to support local authorities, the NHS and social care providers to deliver cost-effective and efficient, but ambitious services too.

However our work develops in the coming months and years, we’re still a local organisation, founded by a desire to work at the heart of the local communities we serve. Despite 20 years going by, that remains at the centre of everything we do and always will.

We have some exciting plans ahead for our anniversary, and how you can get involved, so watch this space…