A bustling and productive WCIG meeting in progress. L-R: Kate (just off screen), Margaret, Tony, Trisha, Esmond, Jane, Simon, John, Lesley, Gillian, Stuart, Judith and Shelley.
The members of our Wiltshire Carer Involvement Group (WCIG) bring a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience to each meeting. Every carer has a very different caring role which brings particular interests and experience to the table, including:
- Stroke
- Mental health
- Dementia
- Continence services
- Housing
- Direct payments
- School and education
- Children’s social care
- Finance and benefits
- Black Asian Minority Ethnic carers
- Young carers
- Armed Forces and veterans
- Nutrition
- Health and wellbeing
- Respite
- Accessing information and support
We would like to introduce you to some of the members of the group:
Esmond
Lives near Devizes
I lived in Spain for 28 years but moved back to the UK to look after my 90 year old mother who has dementia and osteoporosis. I’m now retired and when I’m not looking after mum, I enjoy photography, live jazz and blues concerts, gardening and cooking.
John
Lives in Chippenham
My wife and I care full-time for our adult daughter and our nine year old granddaughter. Our daughter has low-functioning Asperger’s Syndrome and is unable to look after her daughter who consequently lives with us most of the time. I am retired from a career in education and have been involved with carers issues in Wiltshire for a number of years.
Gillian
Lives in Chippenham
I care for my elderly mother who has osteoporosis and is very frail. I juggle this with my work as a holistic practitioner and now run my own consultancy. My approach is very much ‘complementary integrated’ and I specialise in health, nutrition and wellbeing.
Judith
I am currently caring for a long-term friend who has a life-threatening illness. I also help a neighbour who is not in the best of health and who has a husband with Alzheimer’s. I help with their shopping, cooking and generally ‘keeping an eye on them’. I am very involved with a group at Dorothy House which includes carers of patients with life-threatening illnesses as well as my involvement in the WCIG.
Margaret
I have been a carer for 42 years, ever since our daughter was born with Down’s Syndrome and Autism. I have been a carer rep on social care boards for years, and have represented WCIG on a higher level. I now sit on the Learning Disability Partnership Board as well as the Royal United Hospital’s Patient and Carer Experience Group.
Kate
Lives near Westbury
For the last ten years I have been caring for a very elderly relative who lives with us. With great help and support, I have been able to continue practicing as a therapeutic counsellor. I came to be a member of WCIG because I believed that carers didn’t have much representation or a voice.
More profiles coming soon!
