A NEW fundraising appeal has been launched by Carer Support Wiltshire and the charity aim to raise £30,000 over the next 12 months to enable them to continue supporting unpaid carers. Most of us have found the disruption of the last year and having to isolate from family and friends very difficult. However, many unpaid carers faced additional stresses – services they may have relied on for respite care, such as day centres and personal assistants, were not available, and many were caring around the clock. Judy Walker is the chief executive of Carer Support Wiltshire. She said: “Covid has affected each and every one of us, but not equally. As a group, unpaid carers have suffered greatly during this pandemic.
Viv Bass, like many others, was disappointed when Carer Support Wiltshire events had to be cancelled IT’S BEEN 15 months since the doors were forced to close on Carer Support Wiltshire’s face-to-face carer cafes and support groups. This week the charity are delighted to finally be able to welcome carers back for a cuppa, cake and a chat at venues all across Wiltshire. Volunteer Viv Bass has been helping to run cafés for carers for many years and says she was “absolutely devastated” when they had to close in March of last year. She said: “We usually have 10-12 carers who regularly attend. Over the years many have formed their own friendship groups – it’s lovely to see them going off to have lunch together. Since the first lockdown I’ve been ringing everyone fortnightly because I didn’t want them to feel abandoned. I’ve updated them on how everyone is getting on.
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Wiltshire Portage home visitors working with children A CHARITY that provides vital support to families of children with complex disabilities and special educational needs has been boosted by a coronavirus fund grant. Wiltshire Portage has been awarded almost £9,000 from Wiltshire Community Foundation’s Coronavirus Response and Recovery Fund to cover the costs of a home visitor to do early assessments. The fund has distributed more than £1.1 million through more than 260 grants. The 30-year-old charity works with 100 children aged up to school age all over the county with conditions including Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, Autistic Spectrum Disorder including a Learning Disability, Global Development Delay and Prader-Willi Syndrome.