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CARERS CHAT LINE SERVICE
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CARERS CHAT LINE SERVICE
The Carers Chat Line Service operates throughout North Staffordshire, and provides essential support to Carers that are experiencing loneliness and isolation, whether geographically or socially, as a consequence of their caring role.
The service is available to Carers who live in Newcastle and the surrounding area, the Moorlands and the City of Stoke on Trent, and provides a lifeline to many Carers that would otherwise experience social isolation. Confidentiality is a priority with this service.
The Chat Line Coordinators make regular telephone calls to Carers at a time and day convenient to them. This enables Carers to receive much needed social and emotional 'time out' from caring; ultimately alleviating some of the tension and stress that can manifest as a result of caring.
Throughout the year, (funds permitting), a number of social opportunities are arranged for Carers. These provide the perfect opportunity for people to relax, socialise with other Carers, and have a thoroughly enjoyable time.
If you would like further information about the Carers Chat Line Service please contact Margaret or Peter on 01782 834836.
* For Carers living in Stoke-on-Trent, wishing to access the service, a Carers Assessment is required.
Carer Quotes:-
" …we are very appreciative of your services and care- you're doing a fine job."
Female Carer aged 73 years"The Carer Social events give me chance to meet others…..they are so enjoyable."
Female Carer aged 50 years"You have always been so helpful when we have needed your help."
Male Carer aged 43 years.
OUR VISIT TO THE LEOPARD INN
Photographs - courtesy of Sharon Jukes
To aid our fund raising campaign for a purpose built Centre of Excellence, landlords Neil Crisp and Neil Cox of the Leopard Inn, Burslem sponsored a Carers' trip to their venue.
It's not just about bringing in hard cash. Every penny saved is much needed revenue into our coffers.
After drawing names out of a hat, a party of 20 Carers enjoyed a superb three-course lunch finished off with Port and Stilton! The trip included a tour of the whole building, including the Georgian cellar vaults, which had previously been closed off for many years.
Many Carers know the story of the Leopard, but in case you're not familiar with the history here are a few facts.
The Leopard Inn can boast of being the venue for the initial meeting between Josiah Wedgwood and Thomas Brindley, when they discussed the cutting of the Trent and Mersey Canal. An extract from Josiah Wedgwood's diary reads as follows:
" On Friday last I dined with Mr Brindley, the Duke of Bridgewater's engineer, after which we had a meeting at the Leopard on the subject of navigation from Hull….to Burslem" 11th March 1765.
The date of this meeting confirms that the Leopard has been a public house since that date.
In the mid 1800's the Leopard was in a pretty shabby state until a wealthy widow by the name of Mary Lees took over and by 1857 the inn was well and truly back on the map. Her culinary skills were such that she was commissioned to prepare and serve up a substantial banquet for the 'big wigs', at the official opening of the nearby town hall. Two decades later the Leopard was fitted with 57 additional bedrooms bolted onto the original Georgian block, under the instruction of the new owner James Norris, a local brewer. The 'new' accommodation had previously been a pottery factory and couldn't have been better placed for this new enterprising extension. The standard of accommodation was so high that the Leopard became known as the 'Savoy of the Midlands'.
Changes in society during the mid 1950's meant that the building was no longer viable as a hotel. The rooms were closed off together with the Georgian cellar vaults and only the ground floor Georgian rooms were utilised for public use.
When Bass Breweries refurbished the restaurant rooms in 1965, the Arnold Bennett suite was unveiled.
It is reputed that Charles Darwin has slept in one of the Georgian bedrooms overlooking Market Place and local author Arnold Bennett's descriptions of the interiors of the Leopard are featured in some of his novels, where the inn is known as the Tiger.
New landlords Neil Crisp and Neil Cox are now doing a sterling job in bringing the old inn back to life. To their amazement they discovered the boarded up Victorian bedrooms. The interest locally, nationally and globally is immense. Refurbishment plans are already taking shape, with funding strategies very high on the agenda.
Our sincere thanks to the 'Two Neil's' and everyone at the Leopard Inn who made our Carers welcome and made them feel special - which is exactly what they are!
Take good care.
Margaret
CARERS CHAT-LINE SERVICE
Special thanks also go out to Mrs Shirley Ritchie of Clayton, Newcastle under Lyme, through her generosity, under very sad circumstances County Chat-line was able to take Carers on two trips. One to the Candle Workshops in Burwordsley, Cheshire and one to the Hanley Museum and Library and then out to lunch.
Also under similar circumstances, we will be able to fund a forthcoming trip with a very kind donation from Peter and Joan Titterton of Cheadle in the Moorlands.
It's outstanding of these good folk to remember others at difficult time in their lives.
A sincere thank you to you all.
