I have been involved with unpaid carers and carers issues since becoming a carer myself 34 years ago. In 1990 at the age of 46 my husband Colin suffered a brain hemorrhage and subsequent stroke leaving him very badly disabled. I found quite a lot of help for Colin but very little for me. Finding other carers in similar circumstances we decided to get together to see if we could do anything about this. The first thing we did was set up a stroke club for stroke suffers and their carers. Deciding that there were many more carers out there looking after people with different needs prompted us to set up the first carers centre in Warrington. This centre became part of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers (Carers Trust) and I became it's chair. I have volunteered for Carersuk for many years. I represent unpaid carers on Warrington Carers Partnership Boards as one of the carer representatives. I sit on the Advisory Board of the ESRC Centre for Care. I remain active through my volunteering, hopefully soon joining the team at Warrington Carers Hub. 

My husband Colin spent the last eighteen months of his life happily in a care home, where I visited him on a regular basis. Sadly he passed away in June this year very suddenly. Trying to be a voice for unpaid carers whatever their age or role has become a passion, so wherever and whenever I can, I will champion the voice of unpaid carers.