South Lakeland Carers History

1987 - 1990 The establishment of a ‘Caring for the Carers’ project by the Council for Voluntary Action South Lakeland with the appointment of a project worker funded by Joint Finance from Health and Social Services.

1992 South Lakeland Carers Association achieved charitable status. The core services of the Association continued until 1995, with a 3-year grant from the Tudor Trust.

1992/1993 The appointment of a Respite Services Project Worker and G.P. Liaison Services worker, both funded by Joint Finance.

1995 - 1997 The North West Regional Health Authority funded the two year appointment of a part-time Young Carers Project worker to raise awareness of issues relating to young people caring for a parent or sibling.

1996 - 1997 Continuing funding for the G.P.Liaison Services Worker and the Young Carers Project Worker was not forthcoming.

The Respite Service, funded by Joint Finance to mid 1996, continued contracting with Social Services Department and generated enough income to cover the Association’s central overhead for the 1996/97 financial year.

2003 - Present Continued and increased level of funding received from Cumbria County Council Social Services Department for the SLA and the Contract to undertake Carers Assessments.

Likely to be funded until 2006. Money received from the Childrens Fund and Cumbria Community Foundation Local Network Fund to employ a Young Carers Worker in South Lakeland.

Money received from the Frieda Scott Charitable Trust to develop our work with volunteers.

Now a network member of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

Appointment of a Young Carers Worker.

1997 - 2000 The appointment of part-time Co-ordinators in five localities and central office staff to make information, support and advocacy available to carers throughout South Lakeland. Funded for three years by the National A Care Project in one rural locality only, the Lunesdale Community Care Scheme, to provide respite and domiciliary care for both private customers and to contract with Social Services.

Changes in the policy of Cumbria Social Services in May 1997 meant few contracts for domiciliary care were placed outside their own ‘in-house’ provider. There was little money available to Social Services to offer respite care leaving the Association with very little contract work. The Project was funded by 3-year tapering funding from Joint Finance.

1999/2000 A Co-ordinator was appointed to extend locality support to Ambleside/Grasmere. Run as a Pilot project in this area based on a Health Centre, one year funding was obtained from North West Development Agency, C.C.C. Neighbourhood Forum and a Private donation.

2000/2001 A contract and SLA with Cumbria County Council Social Services Department to provide information and undertake Carers Assessments where the cared-for person is entitled to, but prefers a Community Care Assessment. Contract funded from the Carers Grant and agreed until March 2002. SLA funding agreed and ongoing. Two new Carers' Support Workers recruited and placed in an East/West split of South Lakeland to undertake the Carers Assessments and offer support to carers in their own localities.