Member Article

Community advice week from lawyers praised by carers

A week of activity at helping carers, dependents and anyone who needs advice on how to plan for the future has done its job in a community drive to reach out to hundreds of carers missing out on vital support, services and information.

Leading North West law firm Gorvins Solicitors, who hosted the first ever ‘Caring Week’ from 2nd – 6th March 2015, partnered with two major care organisations - The Together Trust and Home Instead Senior Care - in a bid to help carers and dependents who look after older, disabled or seriously-ill loved ones.

Caring Week was also supported by nine further leading care groups, charities and organisations, including Age UK Stockport, Stockport Advocacy, Signpost, The Alzheimer’s Society, Carer’s Call to Action, Stockport Council, Prest Financial, Flag, Greater Manchester Fire Service and Greater Manchester Police.

Focussed on two key areas - Planning for Later Life and Drop-in Sessions for Parents and Carers of Dependents - the week saw more than 100 people come through the doors to take advantage of so many experts under one roof.

Attendees commented to say how useful the event was in giving them “peace of mind” and “access to the right information by the right people.”

Hazel Edwards, a full-time carer for her son Nick, who has first-hand experience of using the attending organisations’ services, said: “It was a great experience listening and speaking to other carers in the same situation as me. Caring for a loved one can sometimes be isolated, so to attend this event and share ideas on how to tackle common challenges whilst getting excellent advice from experts in legal, finance and care provision across the board really brought a community of people together.”

Mike Smoult, Associate Solicitor in Gorvins Wills, Trusts and Probate team, who helped create the event, said it had been an education all round. “We have understood a lot more about how people make decisions about care and helped them explored the relationship between finance, legal and the type of care provision required. There is so much co-operation that people are not aware of.

“When all three aspects of planning work well together, especially for those in vulnerable situations, care is the best it can be. Unfortunately not everyone has access to the right information to help, which is why the week has been so worthwhile for those who came.”

Sue Whitehead, Head of Therapy at the Together Trust, said: “It has been a great chance for those involved in caring roles, or being cared for, to access advice across a range of areas. It lifted the lid on how organisations collaborate for good.”

David Moore, from Home Instead Senior Care, said: “To see so many people through the door for a community based event was fantastic. It proved there is a real need for access to information for carers and even those planning for their own lives who feel they are sometimes in the dark as to what options are available to them. This event gave them the answers.”

As experts in ‘Planning for the Future’ Gorvins Solicitors have now committed to running this unique event each year.

The award-winning firm has also signed up to participate in national initiative ‘Carers Week’ from 8 – 14 June 2015 organised by six major charities. The firm has pledged to give any carers access to the right information by the right people and will be running a carers’ surgery during the week’s activity.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Souter .