Out and about across the county
We took our bus on a tour of the county staffed with trained advisers who identified family carers, registered them with our services and provided one to one support if needed. The weather was kind this year and we managed to have in-depth conversations with 181 family carers, 36 in depth conversations with professionals and gave out over 800 leaflets and other support and contact information to raise awareness of the services we provide.
But we didn’t stop there…… our staff and volunteers held 11 information stands in West Suffolk Hospital, Ipswich Hospital, James Paget Hospital chapel, Newmarket Community Hospital, Glastonbury Court – Kings Suite, Dementia/ carers conference – Nowton Court Village, Wickham Market medical centre, Sainsburys, Sudbury, Sainsburys, Bury St Edmunds, Morrisons, Lowestoft and Waitrose, Newmarket, giving free information and support to new and existing family carers and professionals.
Our 30th Anniversary celebrations
We thought Carers Week would be a great time to invite family carers, our partners as well as friends, members and supporters to celebrate our 30th anniversary. On Thursday 14th June, over 200 guests joined us at Greshams in Ipswich for a fun-filled night of great food, entertainment by Jade MayJean, former The Voice contestant, Roma, a young carer actress and singer/songwriter and guest speakers including family carers, our CEO Kirsten, Chair of Trustees Janet Dillaway and patron Nicci Gerrard.
As it was a celebratory event, we wanted to recognise and thank family carers, by holding our first ever Carers Recognition Award Ceremony. We received an overwhelming amount of nominations for all the award categories from family carers, those they care for and professionals. We were delighted that Neil Watts, from Family Carers Partnership Board, Jacqui Martin, former CEO at Suffolk Family Carers, Beccy Hopfensperger, Suffolk County Council and Antek Lejk, Chief Executive from the Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Trust presented the winners and finalists with awards and certificates on the night. It was brilliant to receive so many very touching nominations. A huge thank you to all those who took the time to enter a nomination and also to those who do so very much to help and support family carers of all ages across Suffolk.
The Carers Recognition Award winners and shortlisted finalists were:
Community Award
Nat Fountain
Arabella Lees
Robert Macpherson
Kevin Buckles
Susan McLaughlan
Glen Whitbread
Peter Twaigra
Sheila Weston
BBC Radio Suffolk
School/ College Award
Louise Hubbard, Nova Training, Great Yarmouth
Sandra de Banks
Roz Coe
Mrs Critchley, Dales Hall primary School
Louise Parnell
Health Award
Kim Mizell, Reynard’s GP Surgery, Red Lodge
Tracy Sharp
Szabi Csaplar
Sue Allison
Toby Meek
Adult Services Award
Naomi Gunton, Fiona Rawson & Tracey Wakeling from Lavenham Ward at Ipswich Hospital
Kerry Day, Ipswich Hospital
Sarah Higson, Ipswich Hospital
Julie Fountain, West Suffolk Hospital
Young People’s Service Award
Stowmarket & District Lions
South Lowestoft Rotary Group
Pioneer Sailing Trust
Duncan Allen, Hands on Heritage
Mental Health Award
Jenny Ward, Navy Family Federation
A massive thank you also goes to evening’s sponsors; Parker Productions, East of England Co-op, Greshams and our host for evening Mr Wayne Bavin from BBC Radio Suffolk.
