Linda Stubbs – Carers Centre Manager
Hi. I became Manager of the Carers Centre at the beginning of July 2009. For 9 years I worked as Quality Assurance / Policy Manager at the Family Fund - a UK wide charity helping 50,000 families per year who care for severely disabled children. Before that I was Quality Adviser for Community Services team within City of York Council.
Adult Information and Advice Team
Jill McMahon – Senior Information Advice and Benefits Worker
Just call me Jill
Hi my name is Jill McMahon ( pronounced McMarn), I have been the new Senior Information Advice and Benefits Worker since 20/10/08. As so many struggle with my surname just calling me Jill is fine.
I have been an advice worker for many years at Citizens Advice Bureaux, Age Concerns and Councils. Although I have advised on a wide range of subjects I am most interested in benefits and community care issues.
I originate from Leeds where I have had a variety of caring roles for friends and various family members. I also used to run/volunteer for a learning difficulties children’s group including taking the group to France to Parc Asterix.
I have problems with my hearing and this led me into learning sign language and I studied this up to level 2 although I feel I am a bit rusty at the moment. I have lots of interests including walking, reading, and singing in a choir, card making and other crafts. I can also be found Morris dancing on the occasion of Whitby folk festival.
Helen Mackenzie - Carer Advice Worker
Hello everyone!
My name is Helen and I'm the new Carers Advice Worker here at York Carers Centre. This is a new post and has two parts to it so I am still discovering what it entails, but here goes!
I am here to offer....
- A service for 18-25's young adult carers working to support them; we might for group events take some time out with young adults and also some 1:1 support.
- Advice to carers particularly about education, employment and training. So if you would like advice on flexible working or training from masters course to massage techniques then phone me and I'll help you. I will be establishing links with sixth form colleges, further and higher education colleges and universities and supporting carers with their education. I will also be trying to promote understanding around carers employment issues with employers in and around York.
I have worked at the Carers Centre for many years as a sessional worker with the Laffs groups. I have a visual arts degree and have taught art here and abroad and lectured on many employment and education training programmes for adults and young people. I have recently finished working as a community philosopher on a three and a half year research, pilot and demonstration project for Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
I look forward to offering you any support.
Young Carers Team
Sharron Smith - Senior Young Carer Worker
My name is Sharron and I have been working at the Carers Centre in York for just over 8 years now. My role is to co-ordinate the Young Carers Service for under 18’s and I also supervise the work with 18-25 yr old carers. I do also offer one to one support to a number of young carers and enjoy having the face to face contact with carers, as well as the opportunity to develop the service as a whole. My job is fun, challenging and very difficult all at the same time, and I believe that it is this which has helped me stay so long.
I enjoy the way in which the work at The Carers Centre allows us to work with individuals around their needs, thus being able to be flexible and also to offer long term support where needed. I also enjoy working within an extremely dedicated team, who are all very passionate about the work they do.
I originally trained as a youth worker and also as a nurse, then went off travelling to Australia and various other places, and in the past have worked in children’s activity centres, both abroad and in the UK. I also have Diploma’s in both Reflexology and Indian Head Massage, but don’t get much time to practice them.
Liz Langwade – Young Carer Worker and Schools Link Worker.
My name is Liz Langwade and I have worked at the carers centre since Sept ’08. I work in the young carer team doing one to one case work, having fun at Laffs (laughs, advice, fun, friendship and support) youth groups and all of the fun trips and events we put on. I will also soon be starting work in the schools in York, raising awareness of young carer issues to parents, teachers and young people.
I have a BA (hons) in Journalism and Marketing – please look out for my skills in the young carer newsletter, only joking! In the two years before joining the carers centre I worked for a high street bank in various locations across North Yorkshire. I have also worked with young people and travelled all over the USA, where I qualified as a lifeguard and swimming teacher and gained experience teaching platform diving, sailing and kayaking.
In my spare time I like to (try) keeping fit, laughing as much as possible and never missing an episode of Coronation Street.
Vanessa Emslie - Activities Co-ordinator
Hi, my name’s Vanessa (better known as Ness) and I’ve been working at York Carers Centre since January 2010. As the Activity Coordinator for the Young Carers Service I’m responsible for organizing the monthly Laffs (laughs, advice, fun, friendship and support) groups, activities and residential trips for 8-18 year olds.
I graduated from the University of Exeter in 2008 with a BA (HONS) in Drama but turned down a part on Coronation Street for this job (only kidding). I am also a qualified playworker and have worked with children aged 5-11 for the past 3 years and with a variety of young people in many different settings. Last year I backpacked around New Zealand for 3 months and then took part in a challenging voluntary programme called Global Xchange, which was fantastic. As part of this programme I volunteered in Wales for 3 months working with homeless adults and people with mental health issues and then went to Zambia for 3 months where I worked with victims of domestic abuse.
In my spare time I enjoy swimming, being outdoors, going to see live music and watching 24! I’m really enjoying working at the Centre alongside a team of hardworking and dedicated colleagues and spending time with the young carers. If you have any thoughts or ideas for activities in the future, please let me know!
Office-based staff
Sarah Lewis – Office Co-ordinator
Hi my name is Sarah Lewis and I am the Office Co-ordinator at York Carers Centre. I am the longest serving member of staff and have been with the Carers Centre for 10 years. In 1999 I joined as the Centre Administrator and then moved to the role of Office Co-ordinator in 2004. My job is varied and interesting. Apart from admin based responsibilities such as updating and maintaining the Centre’s database I am the project worker for the Carers Emergency Card Scheme assisting carers to register an ‘emergency plan’.
I enjoy working with York Carers Centre staff, being part of a service committed to raising the profile of unpaid carers and helping carers get the support they need.
Previously I have worked in the education sector which has included working with young people aged 16-18 on a youth training scheme and for a university careers service advising students about career opportunities. Immediately prior to working for the Carers Centre I worked for the Funding Agency for Schools which was a Government department responsible for distributing funds to the Grant Maintained Schools sector.
I have been married for 22 years and have a son and a daughter. We moved to York fourteen years ago when we purchased a plot of land and self-built our house, an on-going project still not quite finished!
Karen Barker – Admin Support Worker
Hi my name is Karen Barker. I am the Admin Support Worker with the team and have worked at York Carers Centre since 2004. I first studied Art and Design at York College but eventually moved into the area of healthcare. I have worked for North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust for the past 11 years in which time I have worked in quite a few different health-care settings and this has given me good experience.
I first became aware of the issues faced by carers when I studied for a course in Health and Social Care with the Open University. I then started in my current role with the Carers Centre and have really enjoyed being able to work more closely with carers.
My job involves providing admin support to the team as a whole. I also act as first point of contact to carers who may need help and advice. It may be that you are new to caring and are not sure who to turn to for support, or you may have been in a caring role for some time. Whatever your situation we are always here to help and listen.
