The Gaddum Centre is busy working with a web developer today, putting the finishing touches to its great new carers’ website. A network of 20 Manchester carer support organisations, with focus groups, has spent six months designing and developing the website. This has been achieved with invaluable involvement from carers looking at the design and how it will work to make sure that it meets the needs of carers across the city.
The site will go live within the next few weeks with a soft launch when carers will be able to use it and to give feedback. There will be a film with a series of short interviews with carers to help people quickly get an insight into the range of situations that face them in Manchester.
Increasing numbers of carers are going online and whilst there are good existing online resources, the network is reaching out to people who don’t necessarily recognise themselves yet as carers. The website will enable more people to find the support they need quickly and without the frustration of searching several places, saving them time and effort.
There will be news, event listings, details for support groups and carers’ training, and over time, interaction between carers can develop so that they can continue to shape the site and keep it useful. Resources will include topics such as financial challenges, balancing caring with employment, and wellbeing plus links to existing useful resources, like the Manchester City Council toolkit. Carers needing help with specific or multiple needs in caring will be able to find helpful sources of specialist support.
The new website will go live within the next few weeks so keep a look out on the Gaddum Centre website for more information!