Stronger Together: A new partnership

As you may be aware, the way in which carers services are provided in West Cumbria has changed. Directors of Carer Support West Cumbria and People First have been meeting regularly to discuss a way forward for both organisations that will be in the best interests of carers, meet the needs of our teams and deliver our charitable objectives.

Martin Walkingshaw (Chair of CSWC) and David Blacklock (Chief Executive of People First) made the following statement:

We are delighted to announce that a partnership between CSWC and PF has now been agreed and our two long-established charities will begin working together with immediate effect.

There is much to do, and there are still many questions to answer, but we can share some of our thinking behind the partnership, and why we believe it is a great opportunity to transform our offering to carers of all ages across the Cumberland Council area:

• Both charities have been going for more than 30 years; CSWC has developed the skills, experience, networks, and capability to make a difference to the lives of carers and wishes to carry on doing so. PF has a deep understanding of the region, our communities and the unique challenges many individuals face, along with an established central team that can support further development of the partnership. Our offerings ‘overlap’ in so many ways; we share the same values and desire to create a better future for our clients.

• In the current economic climate, a partnership will ensure our funding goes further (and has a greater impact) by sharing resources and some of the costs associated with delivering our services and projects.

• PF will be taking over the provision of adult carer services to Cumberland Council in the next few months, and it is unquestionably in the best interests of our carers that this transition is successful. CSWC can help ensure that success whilst continuing its existing work and (with the help of PF) extending and improving all aspects of our support to carers.

• Throughout our discussion, the question we’ve asked ourselves is ‘what is best for the carers?’ and we all know the increasing pressures these amazing people are under. But we also understand the increasing complexity of their needs; Our current offerings are vitally important but the demand for a wider range of more ‘joined up’ services will only increase. A partnership sets us up to deliver this future seamlessly and ensure better outcomes for all our clients.      

Everyone is working hard to further develop this partnership and we'll soon be sharing much more information about how this strengthens our service and the experience we provide for local carers.