I feel my role as Company Secretary, Import and Export Manager of the small Hi-Fi manufacturing company my husband and I owned helped me when my life so suddenly changed in 1990 following my husband’s brain hemorrhage and subsequent stroke. Once life had settled into some kind of “routine “looking after Colin, I noted quite quickly the lack of support for people who survived stroke and their carers.
Early in 1990 I helped with others and the Stroke Association to set up a stroke club in Warrington. Our main aim by providing a social side for stroke survivors was to show there was A life after Stroke. This we did through our monthly meetings, outings and holidays, all were essentially fun packed and provided happy memories. I became the Chairperson in the mid 1990’s and worked closely with the Stroke Association to try to raise the profile of Stroke. (I believe this has now been achieved).
Around this time I again helped to set up Warrington Carers centre becoming part of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers about 1996 when I became Chairperson. I also joined Carers UK around the same time. The centre provided support and information for carers of whatever age and caring role and although I now only volunteer for both the centre and Carers UK I still participate through meeting wonderful people and the fantastic experiences I have had I hope I have an holistic view of life as a carer. I sit on the Citizens Involvement Board of N-Compass, a company who run our local carers centre. I remain through my work on the Carers Partnership board in Warrington and Carers UK very involved and interested in carers issues, while still caring for my husband some 33 years later.