The lunch arranged as a joint venture between Carers in Hertfordshire, represented by Jenny Young, Honorary President and Crossroads Care Hertfordshire North represented by Sheelagh Taylor, Chief Executive will hopefully be the first of many joint initiatives of this kind.  The venue and its exclusive use for the lunch were thanks to Stuart Alder, Manager at the Restaurant.

The event set out to recognise and celebrate the role of carers and the contribution they make not only to the people they care for but also to their local community.  This was an opportunity to raise the profile of carers, to give them a break from their caring role and celebrate what they do on a day to day basis.  Importantly two carers shared moving stories about their full time caring role which gave County Councillors the chance to find out what it is really like to be a Carer. Based on available population statistics from the last census there are an estimated 4,277 full time unpaid carers in the Hitchin area alone.

The feedback from the event was amazing with one lady saying “I enjoyed the company and lunch very much.  It made such a nice change to get out.”  Plans are now underway to consider how a Carers Group in Hitchin can be established on a regular basis.

If you are a carer or would like more information about what services we provide please contact 01462 455578

Crossroads Care are the leading provider of breaks for carers and the people they care for in Hertfordshire and provide flexible packages of help and support to carers and their families in the home.
Crossroads Care provides the carer with a break away from their caring responsibilities, giving them time to themselves. 

The latest activity involved 15 carers taking part in two art workshops run by Zinc Arts who are a community arts organisation with over 20 years experience of running participatory art projects in local communities.  

A community artist worked with the group of Carers to produce two large canvases using acrylic paints.  The group had no real art skills or experience -it was about enjoying some time out and being creative.  The resulting work is really impressive and will be used by Crossroads as a backdrop to their events during National Carers Week in June. 

 The feedback was very positive and Sheelagh Taylor, CEO of Crossroads Care said ‘We are grateful to Zinc Arts for working with the Carers.  The results are really impressive and the feedback is very positive.  Clearly the Carers enjoyed the workshops and we now have two excellent pieces of Art to display at events”. 

Lixi Chivas, Project Worker for Zinc Arts said “Paul the artist and I were delighted with the enthusiasm from the Carers and the results are fantastic. It was great working with the group”

If you feel this group may benefit someone you know then please call Crossroads Care on 01462 455578.

Sheelagh Taylor – CEO Crossroads Care said “Once carers are trained and more confident it will open new doors to practical support and advice.  They can learn to shop on line, send emails and find out how to use Skype to keep in touch with friends and family or just search the internet for information and advice.  We hope that learning these new skills will improve their wellbeing and make a difference to their lives.”

We are looking for volunteers to support the programme to pass on their I.T skills to our carers both within their homes and in local workshops.

If you would like to help and be involved in something new and exciting by making a difference to the lives of individuals and giving something back to your community then please get in touch with us at Crossroads Care Hertfordshire North.

If you are interested in this very special project then please contact Isabel Bauckham, our Project Co-ordinator on 01462 455578, or alternatively email ibauckham@hertfordshirecrossroads-north.org.uk.

Your role will be to ensure a timely and customer focussed service for carers. We are seeking someone who is IT literate, numerate, self motivated and able to work to tight deadlines. If you feel this job appeals to you, please download an application pack from our ‘Work For Us’ section. Once completed, you can return the pack to us by post to our Hitchin Office, or if sending by email, to send to mcarter@hertfordshirecrossroads-north.org.uk

The closing date for applications is 26th March, with interviews being held the week commencing 2nd April.

Our next available training session will be held on Monday March 12^th from 10am until 2pm with a light lunch being provided. The session is completely FREE and we currently have 6 spaces available. If you would like to find out more or to book a place, please do not hesitate to call on 01462 455578 and ask for either Jo Wilkinson or Michael Carter, or if you wish to email, the address is mcarter@hertfordshirecrossroads-north.org.uk.

In Partnership with Crossroads Care Hertfordshire North, the Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living will be running four simultaneous 8 week programmes in which the Carer and the person that is cared for can get involved in activities including a combination of T’ai Chi with Alexander Technique and gentle movement, Gentle Yoga and Singing for Pleasure. The approaches used are known for their health benefits and their calming and de-stressing effects and are suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. 

The courses run on Fridays from 2pm until 3pm with refreshments available from 3pm until 3.30pm and spaces are still available. The cost of the 8 week programme is £20 and will be held at The Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living. 

If you would like more information on these activities please contact Jaqui Derrick on 01462 678804.

The successful bid will deliver a programme called ‘Getting Carers Connected’.  The purpose is to empower carers and provide them with the skills to use IT confidently.  They will be shown how to access services, shop online, keep in touch with people using email or through social networking sites – helping them to alleviate their social isolation and stress and enabling them to be more independent. 

The training will be carried out by a team of volunteers specially recruited to support the programme.  If you are a motivated person with IT skills and have some time to volunteer for this programme then please get in touch.  Call us on 01462 455578 or alternatively email info@hertfordshirecrossroads-north.org.uk  

The programme will be rolled out next summer – look out for more information nearer the time.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a charity renowned for its excellent services and professional care.

Crossroads Care Hertfordshire North currently cares for over 500 carers in the towns and villages of Hertfordshire with our primary aim to give carers a break.

If you can offer a minimum of 16 flexible hours a week, are reliable, committed, enthusiastic, and want to help make a difference for vulnerable and disabled people in your community then we would love to hear from you.

To find out more or to get an application pack please call our office on 01462 455578

We have set up a new group on Monday afternoons from 2pm until 4pm at the Stevenage Day Centre designed for Carers to come along and share their experiences with people in a similar situation. A trained counsellor facilitates the sessions and is  on hand to talk to you individually.

The feedback we have received is really positive with one lady saying ‘this is the first time i have been able to talk to others about my husband and it has been a good experience’.

If you feel this group may benefit you, please do not hesitate to come along to the Stevenage Day Centre at 1a Broad Oak Way, Roebuck – on a Monday afternoon. 

If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01462 455578