Tag Archives: charities

Can setting up a charity help families deal with loss?

It helped us get through 10 years – it made us stronger”

Georgia Williams with parents Steve and Lynnette Steve Williams said it had been heartwarming to see people getting involved with the Georgia Williams Trust
Every year charitable trusts are set up in memory of people who have met violent or tragic deaths.

Some go on to become major charities – the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, established after the racially aggravated murder of the teenager, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Others flourish briefly and then fold.

But how does setting up a charity or trust help the families at the heart of the tragedy?

The Williams family, from Wellington, Shropshire, lost their teenage daughter in May.

The body of the 17-year-old was found off the Nant-y-Garth pass, near Wrexham, days after she had gone missing from home.

Islington home carers’ financial support ring fenced in council pledge

Mrs Willson, 71, hailed the decision to ring fence home carers’ cash at a time when budgets are pressed

Jean Willson Jean Willson

By David Churchill Saturday, August 3, 2013
5:00 PM

A leading care figure has hailed Islington Council’s decision to ring fence money available to home carers for assisting disabled loved ones.

Jean Willson OBE, who was recently given the Freedom of the Borough, claims Islington’s estimated 16,000 carers save local taxpayers about £15 million a year.

In recognition of their huge humanitarian effort, Cllr Janet Burgess, Islington Council’s executive member for health and well-being, this week pledged to ring fence money for carers until at least 2015/16.

Carers, of which there are more than 15,000 according to the 2011 Census, can currently claim up to £30-a-week depending on how severely disabled their loved one is.

However, only about 1,000 claim, according to Cllr Burgess, who is pushing a drive to reach more.

She said: “When you think about it, 1,000 isn’t a lot compared to the total number of carers that we know exist across the borough.

The Red Cross cares for the family carer

Caring for carers

Many people rely on carers to make everyday things possible – from having a bath to putting food in the fridge. In fact, the 2011 census found there were 5.8 million unpaid carers in England and Wales. But what happens when carers are hit by a crisis themselves?

In Wrexham the British Red Cross is giving carers vital help so they can look after themselves and the people they support. The scheme is run in partnership with charity Wrexham Carers, and funded by Wrexham Council.