Leading Scottish care charity Quarriers today launched a new guidebook for carers on 9 September 2005 at an event addressed by Jackie Baillie MSP at The Lighthouse in Glasgow.
Quarriers has worked in partnership with Scottish Human Services (SHS) to produce ‘Thinking Ahead’ a handbook for families in and around Glasgow who have an adult family member with disabilities and who wish to plan for the future. The handbook covers priority areas identified by families themselves including building trusting relationships, housing support, financial and legal safeguards.
Julia Fitzpatrick, author of Thinking Ahead, said: “Many older carers in particular feel isolated in their anxiety about the future for their relative. The publication was designed with a group of family members, to address the issues which they identified as priorities in thinking about the future. Their quotes and stories provide ideas, encouragement and starting points for others. Each chapter includes signposts to organisations which offer expert advice and support.”
Margaret Imrie, a parent on the editorial advisory group, said: “The book will be to carers what a crystal ball is to a clairvoyant. It will allow them to see into the future and plan according to individual needs and aspirations, in their own time and at their own pace. The group is keen to see the handbook adapted for other areas and for the internet.”
Thinking Ahead was distributed free of charge at the launch event and will be mailed to relevant services across Glasgow including carers centres and local authorities.
Alistair Welsh, service manager at Quarriers, said: “We were delighted to get involved with this project as our Person Centred Planning Service was working with an increasing number of carers who share similar views on things they would like to influence in the future.”
Quarriers provides support and care for adults and children with a physical or learning disability, for children and families facing poverty, family breakdown, exclusion and disadvantage and for young people with social, emotional or behavioural difficulties, or who are homeless. Quarriers also offers support to carers of all ages who need respite, advice or just a friend to listen, it also has the only residential epilepsy assessment centre in Scotland.
Quarriers has grown considerably since it was founded by William Quarrier during the 1870s, expanding to meet the needs of children, adults and families all over Scotland – and beyond. Staff numbers are now in excess of 1600 and the charity has an expected turnover of £35 million for 2005.
Ends
This information and further details are available from Jane Smith at The Business:
T: 0131 718 6022
M: 07780-666136
E: janes@thebusinesspr.co.uk
A full copy of 'Thinking Ahead' can be downloaded in our Publications section.
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