SELSEY CARERS SUPPORT GROUP

History of the Group

Written by Janet Harris M.B.E, President of the Selsey Carers Support Group, for the March 2006 issue of Selsey Life

“Having lived and worked in Scotland and England, it was not until 1980 that my husband and I came to live in Selsey permanently (though we knew it well and were married in Chichester).

“We both ran our own small businesses and, as mine was completely Selsey based, I could work with local people.  This was when Margaret, the Group’s indefatigable Secretary and Editor, (who has now sadly passed away) joined me on a permanent basis to be my right hand.  She was a wonderful companion and took in her stride all the deadlines we had to meet with horticultural publications and exhibitions.  Additionally, she volunteered time to help with the work I did with the Selsey Ratepayers and Residents Association and as a Parish Councillor.

“When my husband’s mental and physical health deteriorated to such an extent it was no longer possible to work and care for him properly, my business closed down.  It was then I discovered, like most full-time unpaid Carers, how incredibly lonely, exhausting, frightening, frustrating and thankless the situation can become, with no support, help or advice for either my husband or myself.  I did not choose to be a full-time Carer - it happened out of necessity.

“Some three years after his death, Helga Ansell also of Selsey) and I volunteered to man a Help Desk in Boots for the Chichester branch of the Alzheimer's Society.  We received so many enquiries about a whole range of medical and caring issues that we

resolved to hold a coffee morning for Carers of loved ones with any type of medical problem (not just dementia) to enable people to get together for a relaxing chat and possibly help and support each other.  Nineteen people attended that first coffee morning on 20 July 2000, and again in August, when there was a request for these to become a regular monthly event.  And thus the Selsey Carers Support Group was formally created.

“As I was apparently the only member with any business experience, I found myself, willy-nilly, taking on the organisational aspects of taking the Group from its small informal beginnings, to the locally and nationally recognised Registered Charity it has now become.  This would never have been possible without the encouragement, help and support of many different people from various walks of life, and I owe them all a debt of gratitude.

“However, after five and a half years, it was with delight and relief that I handed over the leadership to Wendy Sykes, knowing that she had the qualities to take forward the Selsey Carers Support Group to an increasingly positive future as its new Chairman.

“To become the first President of the Group is a great privilege, and allows some continuity of contact and support, in person and on the ‘phone, with our members.  It also frees up time to be the “voice” of Carers and work alongside the statutory and educational authorities to try and make improvements to the services available to vulnerable people in the Selsey area.”