Yvonne Clark
Chief Executive
Yvonne spent many years as a nurse and is also a carer. As well as being Chief Executive she is responsible for the operational side of Carers in Bedfordshire. She also runs several Carer Support Groups.
Paul Brasier
Deputy Chief Executive
Paul was originally an engineer but later went into teaching. He is also a carer. Paul is responsible for the strategic planning and business management of Carers in Bedfordshire. He also administers the training programme for carers and edits the bi-monthly magazine.
Karen Balfe Carer Support Worker
Christine helps and supports parents of children with additional needs who live in Luton and the south of Bedfordshire. Christine is herself a carer.
Chris Barber
Administrative Assistant
Chris is the adminstrator at our Bedford Office, located within the Goldington Centre, 10 Barkers Lane, Bedford MK41 9SJ. He also helps with the Hub Clubs and is a bit of a whiz at solving our more minor IT problems.
Kathy Carter
Carers Cafe Co-ordinator
Kathy was a specialist carers social worker till she joined us to oversee the running of our Carers Cafes. These run on Saturday afternoons in either Bedford, Houghton Regis or Biggleswade and offer a variety of activities for carers to bring their cared for and families to. Activities include hairdressers, beauticians, chiropodists, physiotherapists, childrens computer games and toys, childrens videos, demostrations (e.g. microwave cooking, digital photography), care workers, carer support workers and refreshments. Everything is free. Kathy will be at every Cafe to chat to carers and follow-up on any problems or needs.
Robert Cunningham
Younger Carer Support Worker
Robert co-ordinates The Hub throughout Bedfordshire for young adult carers aged 16 to 24. Presently we have two Hub Clubs running in Bedfordshire, one in Kempston and one in Leighton Buzzard. Robert also provides help and support on a one-to-one basis, including emotional support, help with CV's and job or course applications, and arranges some pretty exciting social events, like ten pin bowling or tobogganing.
Chris Kidd Administrative Assistant
Chris is presently the Carers Cafe Administrator and also acts as Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive. He is located in our Bedford office.
Linda Di Michele Choices for Carers Co-ordinator
Linda looks after our carers breaks project, called Choices for Carers, whereby carers can access funds for a variety of purposes provided it gives them with a break from their caring role. You can talk to Linda on 01234 214914 or make application through another organisation, such as Rethink or Alzheimers. Presently located in our Bedford office, Linda will shortly be moving to our Biggleswade office.
Sally Petre Carer Support Worker
Sally helps and supports adult family carers and runs several Carer Support Groups. She is the co-ordinator for our services to carers in Central Bedfordshire and is the manager of our Biggleswade Carers Centre, located within the Sea Cadet HQ at 4 Station Road, Biggleswade SG18 8AL. Sally is also a carer herself.
Sabina Rondel Administrative Assistant
Sabina is the administrator at our Biggleswade office, located within the Sea Cadet HQ at 4 Station Road, Biggleswade.
Janice Shankland Young Carers Support Worker
Janice helps and supports young carers between the ages of 4 and 18. She also runs our Siblings Project to provide support, their own club and social events for children with a brother or sister who has additional needs. Janice also helps with the Hub Clubs.
Elaine Wallbank
Carer Support Worker
Elaine is a parent carer herself and co-ordinates our specialist service for parents of children with additional needs who live in Bedfordshire or Luton. We call the service 'Parents Together' and it trains volunteer parent carers to act as 'befrienders' for other parent carers. In addition, it provides special training and support for parents of children with additional needs who are going through the transition from childhood to adult. Parent carers are, of course also entitled to all of the other services offered by Carers in Bedfordshire. Elaine is based at our Biggleswade Carers Centre, located within the Sea Cadet HQ at 4 Station Road, Biggleswade SG18 8AL.
Barbara Ward Finance Assistant
Barbara, who prefers 'Babs', helps with the financial adminstration and is responsible for maintaining our financial records and paying invoices, bills etc. Initially located in our Biggleswade office she will shortly move to our Bedford office.
Pat Wilkins
Carer Co-ordinator for NHS staff across Bedfordshire and Luton
Pat is based in our main office in Bedford and travels all over the county. Her main roles are to identify and support carers who work for the NHS in Bedfordshire and Luton. This will include telephone support, information, guidance, advocacy and someone to listen to you. Figures from carers UK indicate that 1 in 7 carers are in paid employment.