Introduction

The Fife Carers Centre is an independently constituted charity, which is jointly funded by Fife Council and Fife NHS Board. We are members of the network of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers. Our aim is to be a One Stop Shop for Carers, to provide support, advice and information for those who are caring and for former carers whose caring role has ended but who often need support to adjust.

A Carer is someone who looks after a relative, friend or neighbour who cannot manage without their support. We estimate that there are over 42,000 Carers in Fife coping with the care of a disabled, frail or ill person.
Carers often say that it is very difficult to find out what is (and is not!) available and how to access information and resources. We hope to have the information about what is available but if we do not immediately have it, we will undertake to do the work of finding out.

We will provide some individual support to Carers, perhaps those who have support available for the person they are caring for, but do not have a chance to talk to someone about their own problems and difficulties. Carers can come to the centre or be seen in their own homes or wherever we can arrange in their locality.
The Fife Carers Centre will be available for use by any group of Carers. Staff will also work across Fife helping to set up and support Carers Groups. If Carers want to meet each other in a relaxed social way or to take part in particular training sessions we will try to arrange it.

We have a register of Carers. Carers who agree to be on our register are sent a copy of our quarterly newsletter and will be kept up to date on any developments that affect Carers.

Fife Council and Fife NHS Board have asked the Centre to provide them with information on carers' views and opinions about the strategies they are planning, particularly the Joint Carers Strategy. The Carers Centre might ask Carers on the register to comment on issues that affect them and pass on these views to Fife Council and Fife Health Board. We always remember, however, that time is, particularly, precious to Carers and we will make sure that we do not waste it and that we make it as easy as possible for Carers to make their views known.

The centre is staffed by Mary Stewart, Centre Manager, Mhairi Lochhead, Carers Support Worker/Deputy Manager, Cindy Gow, Carers Support Worker, Grant Kidd, Carers Support Worker, Lesley Childs, Information Officer, Angela Hay, Centre Administrator/Finance Officer and Irene Jones, Receptionist/Admin Assistant. Most of the staff are employed on a full-time basis and the Centre is open Monday 9.30-1.00, Tuesday 9.30-4.30, Wednesday 9.30-1.00, Thursday 9.30-6.30, Friday 9.30 - 4.00 - Staff Introduction/Photographs