YOUR CARER
Which organisation are
you involved with?: I’m a carer at Jasmine House in Accrington (part of Living Ambitions). How did you become carer?: I started looking after my dad when he got cancer, until he died four years ago. After that, my friend introduced me to care work and here I am. Who do you look after?: I’m carer to residents Karl, Damien and Christopher. What do you enjoy most
about being a carer: I get satisfaction about giving people with disabilities a greater quality of life.
Why do you travel to Blackburn to attend Sliding Doors?: There is nothing quite like this presently in Accrington.
Living Ambition introduced me to Sliding Doors and we come every week. You just have to look at our citizens (Living Ambitions service users) to see how they benefit. They can come here, play bingo, have a pint and just participate in normal life for a few hours. Places like this bring communities together. What’s your favourite
place?: Sliding Doors, but in Accrington itself the Brickworks is great as it has a relaxed atmosphere and our citizens have a place to sit down. What’s the best holiday
you’ve been on?: Egypt. I took my dad before he got too ill and discovered that he could speak Arabic. I had no idea before! He’d learnt it in the Army. That was an interesting trip. A few weeks prior, the travel agent called and asked if we could change our dates. We agreed and then discovered that when we should have been there, the terrorist attacks took place. That was a sign that God’s looking after me. If money were no object
what would you do?: I’d like a boat for me, but I’d also do a lot to help people in need. What one piece of advice
would you give?: Live your life to the max. You are only here once. What is your biggest
inspiration?: If I can manage to put a smile on somebody’s face, that has made me happy.
Who would you like to invite to dinner?: My citizens at Jasmine House.
This interview was conducted at Sliding Doors – a weekly event for isolated people and those with disabilities. Sliding Doors is frequented by Accrington residents and the group has applied for Big Lottery funding to set up activities in Accrington. They were the only finalists from Lancashire in Granada TV’s People’s Project and recently won £49,700 funding. They are now planning to expand their services to other areas and also in Hyndburn.