WLCC team


Staff


Christine Aspin

Christine Aspin

Chief Officer

I began my journey working in Carers services almost 30 years ago, where I started as Carer Support Worker for Crossroads Care, a Carers Support Charity in Bury.  Over the years I have developed and extended carers services nationally working with several Crossroads and Carers Trust charities.  With my extensive knowledge and experience both as a carer for a family member and of supporting unpaid adult and young carers and their loved ones, I have a true empathetic understanding of the daily challenges and issues carers face.  I believe the people supported and their carers should be at the heart of everything we do at WLCC, and I am passionate about ensuring suitable, quality, creative support solutions are available to all that may require them.  This includes finding innovative ways to reach out to carers who are hidden, who may not recognise themselves as carers and/or carers who are so heavily involved in their caring role, they struggle to find time to connect.

In light of the many ongoing challenges in Social Care, I want to ensure sustainability of the Charity to continue to serve unpaid carers and help relieve some of the pressures that they are under. I will be looking at imaginative, efficient and effective ways of working to deliver support that will give positive outcomes as well as adding social value within our communities. By using an effective and evolving communication strategy I will strive to ensure that carers have a strong voice in the development and shaping of our future  services.

One of my top priorities as the Chief Officer of WLCC is to support the teams of staff and volunteers to ensure that they are in the best place possible to deliver outstanding services to unpaid adult and young carers. I also want the teams, including the Trustee volunteers to be open and honest with me, share their experiences and knowledge to help me to be the best I can. By building great relationships and trust within an effective, successful and knowledgeable team we can work together to build on WLCC to succeed even further in the future and meet the needs of even more unpaid carers.

Mark Leyland

Mark Leyland

Reception / Carers ID Badge Officer

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.

Daniel Mortimer

Daniel Mortimer

Business Administrator

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.

Jill Woosey

Jill Woosey

Carers Case Officer

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.

Kieron Sales

Kieron Sales

Carers Case Officer

Hi, I’m Kieron and I’ve been a Carers’ Case Officer at the centre since October 2022. I have previously worked in Retail, Digital Printing and as a Care Coordinator.

In 2018, my 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. You are welcome to contact me for an informal chat, 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 and also watching the mighty Leigh Leopards!!!!

Lisa Kirby

Lisa Kirby

Carers Assessor Lead

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.

Andrea Molyneaux

Andrea Molyneaux

Carers Assessor

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.

Diane Jones

Diane Jones

Carers Assessor

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.

Pauline Bassett

Pauline Bassett

Carers Assessor

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.

Sarah McKenzie

Sarah McKenzie

Carers Assessor

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.

Sarah Cusani

Sarah Cusani

Carers Assessor

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.

Lisa Fletcher

Lisa Fletcher

Digital Media Officer

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.

Elaine Burgoyne

Elaine Burgoyne

Central Services Manager

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.

Suzanne Wilkinson

Suzanne Wilkinson

Activities & Engagement Officer

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.

My job role involves organising activities for our adult carers from flower arranging and yoga to our Knit n Natter group and local walks. We host regular coffee mornings at our centre and have recently introduced our new Carers coffee club at wonderful coffee shops across our borough.  I love spending time with our carers and their loved one and really look forward to meeting our new carers too. I love what I do here at our centre and at our Cares café club, I feel it helps to make a positive difference that our carers and their families truly deserve.

Michael Sumner

Michael Sumner

Apprentice Business Administrator

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.

Louise Winstanley

Louise Winstanley

Carer Companion Team Lead

I am Louise, Carer Companion Team Lead.

I’ve been supporting the Carers Centre offering Reiki to Carers in the past 12 months, along with juggling a caring role for my dad and working as a Nanny. My background is family based supporting many people of all ages with additional needs to feel empowered and thrive and succeed in life.

In my spare time I enjoy going for walks in nature, soaking up the energy from a sound bath and I go to the cinema regular.

My role involves building a team of volunteers to become carer companions enabling carers the opportunity to have respite from their responsibilities. Whether that be students looking to develop a career path, helping others back into work or post-retirement engagement.

Carers do so much that leaving the home can be impossible, I aim to bring some light and relief to carers so they can feel supported whilst having something to look forward to, knowing their loved ones/cared for are in safe hands with one of our trusted carer companions.

I really love helping people and especially if it’s a ripple effect that benefits more people.

Peter Wild

Peter Wild

Young Carers Team Leader

I’ve been involved with young carers for over eleven years, having started as a volunteer and trustee, and I also worked as a development worker for six months.  I 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 eight 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 and staff in the Carers Centre.

Gillian Storey

Gillian Storey

Young Carers Transition Support Worker

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.

Jessica Greenacre

Jessica Greenacre

Young Carers Support Worker

​Hello, I’m Jess, my role is Young Carers Support Worker. I began working at Wigan and Leigh Carers in December 2023.

My previous role was a team leader in a Children’s home. I have worked in Children’s home for 10 years after graduating from University where I studied my Bachelors Degree; Community and Social Care at UCLAN.

In my spare time I enjoy going to the Gym and going to Yoga, I also love to walk my sausage dog, Norman!

Trustees


Philip Humphries

Chair

Kulwant Bartram-Paddan

Trustee

Sue Lewis

Trustee

Paul Walton

Trustee

Frank Woolley

Trustee

Zain Bokyo

Trustee

Sarah Freeman

Trustee

Victoria Marsh

Trustee