Brian Kelsey – Crossroads – 23 October 2018

Crossroads Caring Scotland is one of the country’s leading voluntary sector providers of support for carers and their families. It is a not-for-profit organisation with over 35 years of experience, providing support for vulnerable people and their carers. Whether the person being cared for is a loved one living with terminal cancer, an elderly relative with dementia, or a young person living with a disability and requiring life-long care, the charity’s highly trained and professional staff are well equipped to provide the right support at the right time.

Brian Kelsey of Crossroads came along to the club last Tuesday to tell us more and, importantly, to receive a sizeable donation to the charity from funds raised at the club’s recent race-night event. He began by asking for a show of hands from the audience which confirmed overwhelmingly that most had experience, direct or indirect, of caring for a family member with dementia. This is perhaps unsurprising when one considers that there are currently an estimated 850,000 sufferers in the UK (with numbers set to soar to 2M by 2050).

Carers lives are blighted by psychological, financial, social, and time pressures and Brian, who himself has first-hand experience of dealing with a family member suffering from dementia, explained that Crossroads was there to help break this relentless cycle of difficulties faced by carers. The charity is meticulous in matching service-users to the small team of care-assistants who will work with the families. This means greater peace of mind knowing that a familiar Crossroads support worker will be there whatever the circumstances. Staff are highly trained, to National Care Standards and Scottish Social Services Council regulations, in all aspects of care such as first-aid, safe people-handling, administering medication, infection control and hygiene.

In his vote of thanks, Ian Alexander expressed his admiration for Brian’s evident compassion and hard work in furthering the aims of Crossroads. Brian, in turn, thanked Ayr Rotary Club for their magnificent contribution to the charity’s funds.