LAST week marked Carers’ Week 2013 and the Comet’s Charity of the Year, Crossroads Care Hertfordshire North, held a series of events to highlight the work the charity and carers do.
The charity kicked off the week with a red carpet event at the Broadway Cinema in Letchworth GC.
More than 100 guests, including carers and volunteers, watched a film which featured carers, support workers and volunteers who painted a moving story about the lives of carers and the difference that a Crossroads break can give.
Oliver Heald, MP for North East Hertfordshire, joined Sheelagh Taylor, chief executive of the charity, along with Geoff Brown, chairman of Crossroads trustees, Cllr Jane Gray, chairman of North Herts District Council (NHDC), and Colin Chatfield, chairman of the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation.
The week marked a double celebration for the charity, as Sainsbury’s in Hitchin announced Crossroads Care as its Charity of the Year.
On Thursday, local dignitaries, including the mayor and mayoress of Stevenage, Stephen McPartland, MP for Stevenage, and Cllr Jane Gray, were welcomed to MBDA.
The Stevenage company hosted the event entitled Carers and Employment, where the audience heard about research that is being conducted about carers in the workplace.
In advance of Carers’ Week, 22 carers enjoyed a morning of pampering at the Energise Beauty Salon at North Hertfordshire College so they could enjoy some time out away from their caring roles.
The carers enjoyed a range of treatments, including facials, make-up, manicure and nail art given by Level 2 beauty therapy students.
The penultimate event was an event hosted by Jo Denness, assistant principal of North Hertfordshire College, for carers at itsIndulge Restaurant in Hitchin.
Jo said: “It was with great pleasure that North Hertfordshire College was able to support Carers’ Week. It struck a personal chord within a great many of our staff, who are either carers themselves or who know personally carers within the community.”
Guests included Peter Lilley, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden.
Invitees watched a film on the day about the Getting Carers Connected project, which captures the experiences of carers who have been helped by staff and volunteers to access the internet and use IT in different ways.
To round off the week, students from Barnwell School in Stevenage raised £374.34 by doing a charity bag pack at Sainsbury’s in Hitchin.
Speaking about the week, Sheelagh Taylor said: “We are really pleased and proud of the fabulous support we received during Carers’ Week from carers, volunteers, partner agencies and businesses in the community. It has been the best Carers’ Week ever.”
If you want to find out more about the services offered by Crossroads Care Hertfordshire North call 01462 455578 or visit www.crossroadshn.org.uk
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