May 15, 2002
Inverclyde Carers Centre will receive the key to its first permanent premises in Greenock in the next few weeks, ahead of a conference which will be hosted by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers on May 21st and 22nd.
The street front premises on Cathcart Street will open to the public in the next few weeks as a result of the demand for a central, easily accessible venue offering support, information and advice for Inverclyde's 10,000 carers. The new premises will enable the centre to identify more carers and develop its supporting role across Inverclyde.
Inverclyde Carers Centre is managed by the care charity Quarriers and is funded by Inverclyde Council Social Work in partnership with The Princess Royal Trust for Carers. The small, dedicated team of staff has offered an outreach service to over 200 carers since it opened its temporary base last year in the town's Westburn Centre. The new premises, which are currently being completely refurbished, will provide a one stop shop for a wide range of important services for carers, including the town's first drop-in centre and a base for the area's existing carers support groups to meet.
Quarriers' chief executive Phil Robinson pointed out that the high profile location will encourage more visitors and help raise awareness that a fully fledged support service is available locally.
He continued: "Securing high profile premises is a major achievement for Inverclyde Carers Council which has championed the development of carers' support locally. I would like to congratulate the Carers Council on its success and acknowledge the commitment of our staff team to working with the Carers Council to develop local services that will meet the needs of carers in the future."
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers will hold its annual conference for Carers Centre Managers and Chairpersons at the Ramada Jarvis Gourock Hotel on 21st and 2nd May. This is an opportunity for workers in the field to look at ways of identifying carers and of meeting their needs. There are an estimated 600,000 carers in Scotland and almost half of them assist a friend, relative or neighbour for more than 20 hours per week.
Inverclyde Carers Centre is on the look out for volunteers to help - even if only for a few hours a week. Most people have been or are carers and may not realise that they therefore have a range of skills and experience which mean they are well placed to help others and would make a considerable contribution to the centre's activities. Volunteers help with everything from welcoming visitors to the centre to publishing the centre's newsletter. Anyone interested in helping out at the new Inverclyde Carers Centre in Greenock's Cathcart Street should telephone project manager Heather Irvine on 01475 735 180.
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
Quarriers is Scotland's third largest care charity, number SC001960. Established in 1871, it provides a wide range of care services for children, families, young people and adults with a disability from around 70 projects at around 100 sites in west-central, south-west and north-east Scotland.
Quarriers manages four Carers Centres in Scotland, based in Oban in North Argyll, Clydebank in West Dumbartonshire, Govan in South West Glasgow and Greenock in Inverclyde.
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers was founded in October 1991 on the initiative of HRH The Princess Royal. The Trust exists to make it easier for carers to copy through its network of 119 Carers centres across the UK, by offering advice, information and support.
This information from Shona O'Donnell of The Business, public relations support to Quarriers. For more information please contact: Tel: 0131 718 6022 Fax: 0131 718 6145 Mobile: 07879 842527
For more information about The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, please contact Patricia Hess, Press Office, on: Tel: 0141 221 5066 Fax: 0141 221 4623 M: 07 946 424127
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