Opportunities in care collaboration
Series of workshops offers assistance to self-employed
It’s great to be able to commit to somebody and give them the best support and come away feeling I’ve achieved that
Jane Ward
A new project has been launched to support people wishing to work in the care sector on a selfemployed basis.
Known as ‘Caring Futures’, the initiative is the result of a collaboration between Perthshire- based enterprise support organisation, GrowBiz Scotland, and the region’s Care and Wellbeing Collective.
The project, which has been funded by the Perth and Kinross Council No One Left Behind Fund, features opportunities to benefit from one- to- one support and community learning sessions, together with ongoing peer support and guidance through an existing care and wellbeing network.
A series of six awareness workshops will take place at various locations throughout the region over the duration of the project, which will run until March.
The first one will take place at Strathearn Arts, on Comrie Street in Crieff, from 1.30pm on Tuesday, January 24.
GrowBiz CEO Jackie Brierton said: “The current health and social care challenges in Perth and Kinross are exacerbated by the lack of carers in rural communities.
“A range of support is needed to enable older people, and those with special needs, to stay in their homes when they need additional assistance. This would
also reduce pressure on the NHS.
“One of the solutions to this challenge is to increase the number of self-employed carers and personal assistants in rural areas.
“GrowBiz has been supporting people to become carers for a number of years and so is delighted to be able to offer this assistance and training for anyone wishing to provide care in their communities.”
Experienced carer and personal assistant Jane Ward said: “I wish I became selfemployed earlier. I’m really glad I did.
“I like being my own boss and providing care on my terms and working closely with them and the family. Because I can give the person I’m supporting my undivided attention. I’m not thinking ‘ I’ve got six people waiting’.
“It’s great to be able to commit to somebody and give them the best support and come away feeling like I’ve achieved that.”
Jane added: “It is a privilege and pleasure to support people this way. I love the role.
“I like being my own boss and planning with the person how best to support them at home. It seems to work really well.”
A series of six awareness workshops will take place at various locations throughout Perth and Kinross over the duration of the project, which will run until March.
The second workshop takes place at the Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Services base, on North Methven Street in Perth, from 1.30pm on Wednesday, February 8.
Organisers have said that everyone is welcome.
A GrowBiz spokesperson described the Care and Wellbeing Collective as “a mutually supportive network of care and wellbeing practitioners across rural Perth and Kinross”.
For more information, see www.careandwellbeing.scot