A CHARITY has been supporting unpaid carers for three decades.

Cheshire and Warrington Carers Trust celebrates its 30th birthday next Wednesday (November 13).

The trust provides advice and practical help to carers, who are mostly friends and family of people with long term health or other issues.

Mid Cheshire MP Andrew Cooper, who is supporting a parliamentary campaign to raise awareness of the role unpaid carers play in society, said: “Unpaid carers provide an essential role in our community and in so doing they reduce the pressures on the NHS and other service providers.

“The Carers Trust is to be congratulated on reaching their 30th anniversary in recognition of supporting this forgotten sector of our community.”

Sharon Goadby is one of the carers supported by Carers TrustSharon Goadby is one of the carers supported by Carers Trust (Image: Supplied)

One of the carers the trust supports is Cuddington resident Sharon Goadby.

The 60-year-old is married with three grown children and two grandchildren.

A few years ago, her stepfather was diagnosed with vascular dementia and has now been moved into residential care.

Meanwhile, Sharon’s mum has several health and mobility issues, including profound hearing loss, and is reliant on her for transportation and help with phone calls, form filling, financial queries and GP appointments.

She does all of this alongside her work as a self-employed cleaner, leaving little time for herself.

Thanks to Carers Trust she has been able to enjoy breaks from caring and join in events and activities organised by the charity.

In February she joined an open water swimming session at Pickmere Lake and she is now part of a group with like-minded women.

She said: “The Carers Trust has given me my life back.

“I still care for my infirm mother of course but I now have a release that has opened up new opportunities, created new friendships and increased my own resilience.”

To mark 30 years, the trust is giving running a luxury hamper raffle which will be drawn at their members’ day on Wednesday.

Contents of the hampers have been donated by carers and local businesses, with the star prize being a Eurocamp holiday.

All of the profits from the raffle go towards the Carers Trust.

To be in with a chance of winning, just scan the QR code below.(Image: Supplied)

QR code to enter the hamper prize drawQR code to enter the hamper prize draw (Image: Supplied)