WLCC team

Bernadette has been CEO at Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre since June 2022, a role she has undertaken with openness, humility, and courage, earning our respect and admiration and that of our sector.

I truly believe that by working together across Wigan and Leigh, we can continue to build a community that values, celebrates, and recognises the contribution and circumstances of all our unpaid carers. I am privileged to work with such an outstanding team including our staff, volunteers and trustees.

I have been employed within the voluntary sector since 1991 and undertaken a range of roles, supporting people with substance misuse problems, mental health problems and older peoples’ services

We have recently welcomed several new members to the team bringing in new skills, experience and different perspectives. Together, we work within a culture of shared values, teamwork and innovation. We have much to look forward to and I am very optimistic for the future of WLCC.

The role of the unpaid carer can be very challenging and lonely. However, it can also be very rewarding and it is our job to help you find such rewards and get the help and support you need to care for your loved ones.

Hello my name is Mark Leyland. I was a Volunteer at the Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre for a few years helping carers with social media and general tablet/iPad training.

My previous volunteering and my current position as a Buddy Project Worker were and are both rewarding. My role involves assessing carers and the cared for to see if they are suitable for the Buddying Service.

Hello, I’m Daniel and I am the administrator for counselling. I began volunteering at Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre in March 2021 as a voluntary receptionist, helping Mark out on the front desk and assisting in administrative tasks including taking calls, registering new carers, printing carers emergency cards, making referrals for counselling and signposting clients to specific staff members qualified to help their query. I also make our visitors a good brew! Before I came to the centre, I worked for five years in e-commerce and digital marketing as a Graphics Assistant.

As a member of the counselling team, I work with both counsellors and clients to ensure appointments are regularly arranged and attended, as well as helping to resolve issues or queries that may come up during counselling sessions and keeping regular contact with clients to make sure that sessions suit their caring schedule and needs.

I understand how having someone to talk to can make a huge difference to our day and that’s why I aim to keep our counselling service as organised and trustworthy as possible.

I’m Jill and I am one of the Carers’ Case Officers here at the Carers Centre. I have been with the charity for 3 years but I started as a Buddy Project Worker before changing my role last year. I have worked in education previously, but my main background is in the care sector. I am here at the centre to provide any support that our carers need to make their caring roles a little less challenging.

I am here if you need a listening ear or just a cup of tea and a chat. When I am not working, I like to keep myself fit and healthy and watch my boys play football at the weekends.

Hi, I’m Kieron and I am a Carers’ Case Officer.

I started my role in October 2022. I have previously worked in Retail, Digital Printing and most recently as a PCN Care Coordinator in Leigh.

In February 2018, my then 3 year old son was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a rare progressive muscle wasting disease.  As an unpaid carer myself, I am very keen to support and champion our carers as my own family’s personal experiences have brought certain challenges.

Please feel free to give me a call or come in to the centre for an informal chat. We can sit down, have a brew and If you’re lucky you might even get a biscuit!!

I can offer you a listening and non-judgemental ear at a time when you may need it the most.

In my spare time, I like to spend as much time with my family, football (playing and watching), listening to music/podcasts and sitting down to read a good book – when the opportunity of a quiet moment arises!

My main coping mechanism since finding out my son has Duchenne has been to write a blog from the viewpoint of a Dad dealing with their child’s life limiting illness diagnosis.  I find this to be very cathartic.

I started working for the Carers Centre in May 2015 as an assessor and became team leader in 2018. We have a team of 6 assessors covering the Wigan and Leigh Borough. The role of an assessor is to assess the needs of unpaid carers through an assessment. This is just a chat and a chance to discuss any concerns or issues when caring for a loved one. We can meet carers face to face or we can assess over the telephone. We offer support to carers in various ways, this can be information and advice, reducing isolation, training to support them in their caring role or grants and budgets depending on eligibility.

I have worked at the Carers Centre for 6 years.  Prior to this I worked for Wigan Council supporting people with learning disabilities and acquired brain injuries.

I am a Carers Assessor and this involves talking to carers about their caring role, how it affects them and talking over ways things could change or improve to help the carer to manage better where possible.

It involves offering advice and information, providing a listening ear, signposting and referring out to different services including referring to the Carers Centre.

I enjoy my job and hope that the support we offer makes a difference to people’s lives.

I am proud to join the Carers Assessment team at Wigan and Leigh Carers, I joined  in June 2023.  Prior to joining the team I worked in Health and Social Care for over 20 years I became a Q.C.F Assessor, also known as N.V.Q, teaching levels 2, 3 and 5 in Health and Social Care. I enjoy supporting people and helping them realise their full potential. Carers are a vital part of our community and are often not recognised for the amazing support they give. Carer Assessments highlight any support the carer may need to maintain their caring role.  We provide a listening ear and offer advice, training and information also signposting to various places where more information can be found.

I look forward to continuing my journey with Wigan and Leigh Carers.

I am Pauline.  I joined Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre in June 2023 as a Carer Assessor, having recently stepped down after 15 years as an Adult Social Worker for Wigan Council.

During that role I worked predominantly with hospital discharges and the cared for.

I am now looking forward to having the opportunity to be able to spend time talking to carers about their caring role and the impact on their own lives through the offer of a Carers assessment. This is to identify any support needs they may have as a carer and where possible to try and address those needs. This may be, by providing information or referring on to relevant services within the Carers centre, or externally and hopefully make a positive difference in their lives.

I joined the Carers Centre in May 2017 and had previously worked at West Lancs Carers Centre for nine years and prior to that worked for Carers UK West Lancashire.

I am part of a team of six carers assessors. The assessment aims to identify any support needs a carer may have and address those needs where possible, by providing information and referring on to relevant services within the centre or externally.

I enjoy working with carers and knowing that I’ve helped to make a positive difference in their lives. I find my job very rewarding.

I joined the Carers Centre in June 2015 and had previously worked for Wigan Age UK and before that for the Citizens Advice Bureau.

I am part of a team of six carers assessors. The assessment aims to identify any support needs a carer may have and address those needs where possible, by providing information and referring on to relevant services within the centre or externally.

I enjoy working with carers and knowing that I’ve helped to make a positive difference in their lives. I find my job very rewarding.

I joined Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre in February 2019. Prior to joining I was a qualified Social Worker within Adult Services having worked for Wigan Council and of late Lancashire County Council. I am part of a team of six Carers Assessors. The aim of the Carers assessment is to identify any support needs a carer may have and address those needs where possible, by providing information and referring on to relevant services within the centre or externally.

I enjoy working with Carers and knowing that I’ve helped to make a positive difference in their lives.

Hello, I am the Volunteer and Befriending Co-ordinator at the Carers Centre. I have worked in the charity and voluntary sector for over 22 years with a wide range of experience in community work and supporting volunteers. I look forward to being able to work closely with Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre’s volunteers and to develop further volunteering opportunities, to make a positive difference to both the volunteers and the carers supported by them.

Hi, my name is Lisa Fletcher and I joined Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre in October 2020 as Digital Media Officer. I feel very proud to have joined the team, they are undoubtedly an invaluable resource for carers in the local community. Having spent the last 7 years creating compelling content for Social Care, I am bringing my passion and enthusiasm to the team, working collectively to make a difference to the lives of carers.

I have also worked as a Local Government Officer, a Befriender, and a Volunteer.

The Centre dedicates time to connecting and communicating with people with a digital media presence across many platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Together, as team, we have a strong commitment to championing the vital role carers play in our communities – both supporting carers and the people they care for.

It is important that we understand and deal with the things that matter to carers.

I have worked for the Carers Centre since April 2009 when it was just in the planning stages and I am very proud to have been part of its growth.

I am the HR and Finance Officer so day to day I make sure everyone gets paid.

I have some ancestry on Frederick Street as my great great grandmother used to live here so it’s nice to walk the same path.

Prior to joining Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre, I worked at the Cooperative Bank for 15 years in several roles. I love to meet people and find out about them and have a passion for helping others. I can’t wait to meet everyone. I am looking forward to organising lots of activities to really enhance the lives of local carers and make the positive difference that they, and their families truly deserve.

My name is Michael and my job role includes general office administration (answering the phone, making appointments), responding to enquires and finding solutions, participating in community activities and collecting feedback from carers. Prior to working with the Centre, I have volunteered with the Boys Brigade and with a community interest company called Individualised Direct Support Services CIC – IDS Services, where I provided group support with disabled people.

The reason I decided to work with the Carers Centre is because I enjoy working with and supporting people and I also have personal experience of being a young carer. I am really looking forward to working with the Centre and making a difference to carers.

I’ve been involved with young carers for over nine years, having started as a volunteer and trustee, and I also worked as a development worker for six months.  I’ve was a Young Carers Support worker May 2015 – December 2021, since then I have been Team Leader.  The core of our work involves Young Carers assessments, long term support for young carers and their families, alongside running and brokering respite and training opportunities for young carers.  As well as numerous “other duties as appropriate. ” ?   I currently lead on liaison with partners providing additional respite opportunities such as STEAM, Wigan Athletic and Be Well’s HAF project.   Over the years, I’ve led seven young carer residentials, undertaken staff training in schools and other organisations and well as Young Career awareness assemblies to around 5000 pupils.

I continue to be humbled by the love and dedication Young Carers bring to their role, and it has been an honour to see so many fantastic young people grow into amazing young adults.  I continue to learn from my dedicated Young Carer colleagues Nicola, and Katie, and soon Jill Woosey; our incredible volunteers; and staff in the Carers Centre.

I am Nicola Wood and I am a Senior Young Carers Support Worker having worked for the charity since April 2013.  Prior to that I had  spent several years as a volunteer including leading the Leigh based Turtles group.  I was responsible for rolling out our Young Carers assessment process for children and their families following on from rights introduced by the 2014 Children’s Act.  Since then I have undertaken over 600 young carers assessments / reviews.

I have made numerous contributions to professionals meeting drawing on the tailored support we can provide, and the in depth knowledge we have a social care and the Borough’s extensive and incredible third sector.   I have also done intensive 1-2-1 work with young carers in situations such as family bereavement and re-engagement with education opportunities, alongside managing our befriending volunteers.  I have played a key role in events that recruit and / or thank our brilliant volunteers such as Our Stars.  I have led two residentials and organised other events such as the trip to the Young Carers Festival.  I have supported the creation of new groups for Young Carers, and the transfer of the Estuary group from council control to ourselves.  Also in collaboration with Fur Clemt I introduced our Cook Club programme, that provides both respite and skills development for young carers.

Hi, I am Gillian, I am the Young Carers Transition Support Worker at the Centre.  I previously worked in Banking and Education prior to working for the Carers Centre.  In my educational role I worked with children who have special educational needs, and although this at times could be challenging it was a very rewarding position.  My new role involves supporting young adult carers who are facing periods of challenge, transition and change by identifying, helping and recruiting volunteer mentors.  I love working with young people and helping others, and hope to make a positive difference to their lives.

Hi, I’m Katie-Ann and I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to work alongside the team as a Young Carers Activity Coordinator from October 2021. I am currently also a university student studying to achieve my social work degree. Having gained a qualification in Health and Social Care prior to attending university, I know I can bring with me to the team, my passion, dedication and new ideas to support young carers within activities they take part in. From a personal experience, I know what it can feel like to be young and under pressure when trying to balance education and family life when a family member is unwell. This I feel I understand why it can be so important for young carers to have a safe and fun place to unwind whilst being alongside others. This is what I will be working to promote and achieve as a Young Carers Activity Coordinator at the Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre.