Support for carers in Ballymoney

The Northern Trust welcomes the recent appointment of Anne Cummings as Carers Coordinator in the Trust. There are around 185,000 carers in Northern Ireland who provide care and support to ill, frail or disabled friends or family members. They are not paid and often work without support. People from all walks of life and backgrounds are carers. Three out of five people in the UK will become carers at some time in their lives. Caring can be a rewarding experience, yet many face isolation, poverty, discrimination and ill-health.

Research shows that carers are more likely than non-carers to report high levels of psychological distress causing anxiety, depression and loss of confidence and self-esteem. Older carers are more likely to be caring over a longer period of time and many report a chronic illness or disability.

Anne wants to hear from carers in Ballymoney to advise them of the services available to them in the Trust. She wants to raise awareness of carers issues across all programmes of care in the Trust area. She will provide carers with a point-of-contact who can offer support, information and training while they are caring for a family member or a friend.

She will also provide support and training to health professionals in the Trust and provide up-to-date information on carers issues. She will provide training on the carers' assessment process.

Anne will work with external bodies such as Carers NI, Barnardos and Carers Coordinators of other trusts to ensure that up-to-date information is available and that the Trust can respond to the needs of carers promptly. Anne will act in an advocacy role for issues with carers where there is currently no Trust involvement.

Speaking about her new role, Anne said, "This is a new post and shows we are committed to supporting carers working in their own home. I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with carers and carer groups across the Northern Trust.

"My new role will allow me to provide support to carers and on their behalf I will talk with carers support groups and organise training on things like stress management, moving & handling and back care".

Anne has spent many years working in community development within a statutory and community setting. She has a lot of experience, working with community groups across Northern Ireland, training, managing programmes and funding initiatives, devising and implementing strategies, and working in partnership across the community, statutory, public and private sectors. She has a degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Social Research skills.

If you are a carer and would like support from Anne please phone her on 2766 1392 or email her at [email protected]