About Us
About us
Who We Are & What We Do
St Helens Carers Centre is an independent registered Charity (1089663) that supports unpaid carers looking after someone who lives in the St Helens area.
We were established in 2000 by a group of local Carers who wanted to establish a meeting point for Carers and improve information and services. We are a Network Partner of Carers Trust. We have been providing support to carers for over 20 years!
At the Centre we aim to support both Young and Adult Carers to recognise their own needs, have their voices heard, help with their physical and mental well being and ensure they are fully understood, valued and supported in their caring role.
There are an estimated 22,500 adults and 2,500 young people in St Helen's supporting someone living with an illness or disability or a mental health need. This is often done out of love or friendship and they do not get paid.
People often don’t recognise themselves as a Carer but if you provide support to a friend, partner, relative or neighbour who could not manage without you, then you are a Carer and St Helen's Carers Centre can help you.
All caring journeys are different, at the Centre we tailor our help and support to each person’s unique situation. All of our services are free of charge. We provide our services from two large Carers Centre hubs, our Adult Centre is located in Baldwin Street and our Young Carers Centre and Carer Clubhouse for Adults is on Cotham Street in the Town Centre opposite St Helen's Town Hall.
Our Centre has professional, friendly staff who have a wealth of experience and knowledge to offer you. As a Charity we are governed by a Board of Trustees and you can find out more about the Board Members by
pressing here.
Meet our Board of Trustees
The Carers Centre is both a Charity and a limited Company and is governed by Volunteer Trustees. These Trustees are our Board members and they volunteer their their time to oversee the strategic development and management of the organisation. Most of our Trustees have been, or are, Carers themselves and have in depth knowledge and experience of caring issues.
Jane Dearden MBE DL
Chair
Jane is a former Carer and has a wealth of experience in Carer Support Services and campaigning. Jane led the campaign to establish the Carers Centre and remains its founding Chair. She has also been involved with Crossroads Care North West since the early nineties. In 2010 Jane was awarded and MBE for services to the community of St Helens she is also a Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside.
Alma Sisson Trustee & Company Secretary
Alma together with Jane Dearden was one of the original Carers who established St Helens Carers Centre. She has a particular interest in Carers caring for someone with a Mental Health condition.
Geoff Almond Treasuer
Geoff is a former primary school headteacher and is a full time carer for his wife Jean.
He has been involved nationally in campaigning for carers and was formerly Vice Chair of Carers UK until he retired as a trustee.
He was Mayor of St.Helens from 2012/13 and nominated the St.Helens Young Carers Centre as his Mayoral Charity of the Year.
Geoff is currently Chair of Mill Street Medical Centre PPG.
Jen Sheffield
Trustee
Jen was previously employed by the NHS for many years working with Medical professionals and Social workers. She is now a Carer for 2 people and her forte is working with the elderly. She runs workshops in Universities speaking to student medics Nurses and Social Workers explaining the daily tasks and needs of Carers.
Theresa Butler
Trustee & Vice Chair
Theresa had a long career in local government and a particular interest in welfare benefits. She is currently Chair of Governors at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School.
Diane Charnock Trustee
Diane was an NHS Trust Chair on Merseyside, chairing both Community and Acute Trusts and she spent 3 years as a main Board member of the Legal Aid Board whilst also serving as a Justice of the Peace. Diane has also had a successful career in executive recruitment.