Coventry and Warwickshire locals are invited to celebrate a remarkable 50 years of supporting carers on Friday October 11th, 7pm-late. Tickets are now available here, with one and all welcome.

The evening promises to be a memorable one, as the first of it’s kind organisation aimed at supporting carers, celebrates five decades of memories which can all be traced back to an ATV television drama.

FROM SMALL SCREEN TO PILOT SCHEME

Carers Trust Heart of England support carers and those they care for, and have done ever since 1974 after Noel Crane, a disabled man from Rugby who was being cared for at home by his mother, wrote to the makers of ATV show Crossroads, prompting the launch of a revolutionary pilot scheme.

The hit 1970s TV show centred on the Crossroads Motel and starred Noele Gordon as the motel owner Meg. In 1973, the show saw Meg’s son Sandy, played by Roger Tonge, left paralysed after a car crash. Meg’s life was turned upside down when she had to stay at home to care for him and she eventually set up a fictional “Caring for Carers” scheme.

Noel, a fan of the show contacted producers and offered insight on how they could more accurately portray what was life is like for a carer and the person they care for. ATV took Noel on as an adviser on disability issues and even donated £10,000 to set up a pilot care project in Rugby that aimed to provide unpaid family carers with practical support.

LOCAL EXPANSION AND THE FORMATION OF OTHER CARE ORGANISATIONS

The project would be known as the Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme and its success meant it was soon rolled out at a national level.

In 1981, the scheme was set up in Coventry before expanding the areas in which it operated to include Nuneaton, Bedworth and North Warwickshire,

By 2012 Crossroads Care was supporting over 43,000 carers and their families through a network of local Crossroads Care schemes. In 2012, Crossroads Care merged with The Princess Royal Trust for Carers – founded on the initiative of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal in 1991 - to form Carers Trust. Carers Trust now works with a network of over 120 local carer organisations across the UK, supporting close to one million people.

In 1995, a project funded by Coventry Voluntary Services Council saw a small group of carers come together to support each other. The project’s success led to the formation of the Coventry Carers’ Centre in 1998.

In 2015, Coventry Carers’ Centre and Coventry Crossroads merged forming Carers Trust Heart of England. In 2017, Carers Trust Heart of England took over Guideposts Rugby, a charity that supported carers across Warwickshire providing information and support.

A part of the Carers Trust Network, Carers Trust Heart of England is one-stop shop for carers of adults and children with care needs, providing information, support and respite.

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CARING

Sarah Wakeman, Fundraising and Business Development manager commented, “We are incredibly excited to celebrate this special milestone. It’s important that we celebrate our history and all of the fantastic people and organisations that have paved the way.

“Our origins as Crossroads and our remarkable journey show the importance of working together as a community to make a difference. Carers Trust Heart of England has always worked closely with the local community to support some of the most vulnerable members of society.

“We are now excited to invite locals to join us as we celebrate this significant milestone and look forward to the next 50 years.”

Tickets are available at £50 per person or £450 for a table of 10. The evening will feature a delightful three-course meal, a disco, silent auction and raffle. Early booking is encouraged to secure your place at what promises to be a night to remember.

Carers Trust Heart of England are also welcoming support through sponsorship or the donation of prizes. “Any contributions will help make this event even more special and would be greatly appreciated. Your support will help enable us to continue supporting unpaid carers across Coventry and Warwickshire,” said Sarah.

To learn more about Carers Trust Heart of England’s history please click here.

You can purchase tickets here, and to enquire about sponsorship opportunities, or to donate a prize, please contact [email protected].