Member Article

Businesses back new Young Carers' Champion for Blackpool

Blackpool has a new Young Carers’ Champion - thanks to 24 local teams, mostly from local businesses, raising funds through a three month cash quest.

Rachel Lambert’s appointment has come at a pivotal point for Blackpool Carers’ Centre, long in the ‘business’ of makeovers - of carers’ lives - but transformed beyond recognition itself by the DIY SOS Big Build for BBC Children in Need last year.

It’s coming up to the anniversary of the actual broadcast - in November - which was watched by 3.9m people who donated almost a third of a million pounds to Children in Need.

Help in kind for the Blackpool based charity was estimated at £905,275 - with 872 individuals and organisations donating time, services and products to transform a derelict former NHS property into Beaverbrooks House.

But there’s been another dividend too - the continued commitment of local tradesmen and women and businesses who not only helped complete the upstairs of the building to provide workers with office space, a training room and other administrative facilities, but have since provided support and advice to help the charity maintain the wonderful building on Newton Drive.

Michelle Smith, charity CEO, says partnership working with local businesses and services has increased too, with greater awareness and understanding of what unpaid carers do, and services expanding to meet various needs - including a brand new working carers group. There are plans for a respite lodge for young carers and additional facility for dementia carers - developing the annexe which was used by the DIY SOS crew during filming.

And while Sandcastle Waterpark raised - for the fourth year running - the greatest sum in the three month Cash Quest for Carers - £10k of the £18k-plus total - it was fitting that one of the DIY SOS volunteers taking part also won an award.

Carl Vidoretti of CV Maintenance Solutions - backed by team mate John Greene (another DIY SOS volunteer) and Carl’s partner Fay - ran a series of golfing tournaments, poker nights and a bonus ball draw to win a football shirt signed by Charlie Adam… winning the Most Innovative Award of the quest into the bargain.

The appointment of 26 year old Rachel marks a break with tradition - as it’s the first time that someone who has been ‘cared for’ rather than a carer has taken on the role of fighting the carers’ corner locally and nationally.

It’s a crucial role. Former young carers’ champions Amy Gunniss and Camilla Ball fronted the DIY SOS programme for the charity. Both are social workers. Liam Quinn, 17 , Tara Bragg, 22, who have just stood down as co-young carers’ champions, also featured in the programme. Both are now apprentices with the charity.

Rachel already has a high profile in her own right. The hotshot photographer and crackshot markswoman has sights firmly set on raising awareness for carers – as someone who’s been “on the receiving end”, as she puts it.

Rachel explains: “If you support carers you help those they care for too. It goes hand in hand.”

Rachel was born with achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, and spent two years of her early life on a ventilator.

Today she leads a very active life on her own terms with the support of family, friends and her own carers.

Rachel was nominated as a Positive Role Model in the Disability Category of the National Diversity Awards last year.

She’s a charity ambassador, an accomplished photographer, sportswoman and performance artist.

Rachel’s a crackshot too, bagging a haul of gold and silver medals in shooting contests.

The former Blackpool Sixth Form student clearly had what it took to become a Paralympian but focused on her passion for photography instead, graduating from Lancaster University with an Honours degree.

Rachel plans to use that expertise along with social media skills in her year in office. She has volunteered at the carers’ centre for six months.

The charity also actively supports 16-19-year-old students at SEN schools across Blackpool on various work experience placement at local businesses. Rachel went to one of the schools - Highfurlong - involved in the project.

“For me, it’s all about being treated equally,” says Rachel who will bring that sense of fair play and social justice to fighting the corner for young carers.

CEO Michelle adds: “Rachel brings some exceptional skills to the role and a real determination to do something fresh and different.“

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jacqui Morley .