Celebrating 30 years of Renfrewshire Carers Centre

In January, Renfrewshire Carers Centre (RCC) celebrated 30 years of supporting unpaid Carers in Renfrewshire at the Paisley Town Hall.

At the event, Depute Provost of Renfrewshire, Councillor Cathy McEwan, shared a few kind words about the impact Carers have on our communities and joined Renfrewshire Carers Centre Manager, Diane Goodman, in cutting the Anniversary cake to commemorate the moment. 

The Centre stated back in January 1996 when CARD – Carers Action Renfrew District, a campaigning group were successful in obtaining a dedicated Carers service. Funding was secured from the Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Renfrewshire Council to fund the Centre which was seen as a one stop shop for Carers.

The Centre started with 2 members of staff and has grown to 81 staff and over 30 volunteers today. We provide a range of services including: information & advice, advocacy, peer support groups, counselling, training, short breaks, care at home, young carers support, adult support team, emergency plans, ethnic minority support, Self-Directed Support, carers discount card, empowering carers voices and now the new emerging digital age.

Working in partnership and getting involved in the local community has been key to the Centre’s success. We work closely with local services, voluntary organisations, community groups and statutory partners sharing the one purpose, to improve lives of carers and the people they care for. We cannot support carers in isolation, and it is only by working together – a joined-up approach that we can make Renfrewshire ‘Carer Friendly’ and ensure Carers get the support they deserve.

We wouldn’t be able to celebrate 30 years without funding and Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership and Renfrewshire Council have been the consistent funder providing our core services since the Centre began. We have been able to develop and extend services through a variety of sources including Carers Trust, The National Lottery, The Robertson Trust, Shared Care Scotland and BBC Children in Need, to name a few.

We want to say a big thank you to our Carers – often making sacrifices in their own lives to care for a loved one. You are the backbone of our community. You make the world a better place with your compassion, dedication, caring and love and the Centre feels privileged to be part of your lives.

Watch this space for the next 30 years.

Carer quotes

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Coming here was the best foot forward I have made in a very long time.”

“The love and care I received from Renfrewshire Carers most certainly helped me to be where I am today. The service provided was incredible, and for that, I am eternally grateful. It’s the only place on the planet, that you know every single person is in the same boat as you, and that in itself creates great strength, courage and compassion. I really don’t know where I would be today, without you all.”

“Thank you as well for always being there and listening to my ups and downs along the way.”

“I’m almost overwhelmed with the kindness and understanding, you’re like a lifeboat to me and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it… Thank you again, you’re a light in the darkness and we so badly needed your help.”