2013 saw the beginnings of the parent carer project, Hand in Hand with a student social worker consulting with affected families. We worked in partnership with Scope to provide a programme of activities.
The Cranfield Trust provided a mentor to help with the development of a new strategy and operational plan.
We developed a strategic partnership with Spiral Health CIC and successfully applied for a grant from Triangle Trust to appoint a lead hospital worker based at the Nurse Led unit in Bispham.
PQASSO level 2 and the Carers Trust Centre of Excellence awards were achieved. We rebranded as Blackpool Carers Centre in order to benefit from the national brand.
We closed the Church Street shop and reopened this as a drop in town centre venue for carers. We also opened our furniture store in Bispham Village.
During 2013, our hospital project was featured on The One Show.
We accessed funding from Comic Relief and Public Health Blackpool to support the widening of the Family Focus project supporting families living with parental substance misuse. Both Children in Need and Esmee Fairbairn extended their 3 year funding for an additional 3 years.
Sainsburys selected us as their charity partner for the year. Hayley Kay from Radio Wave became our Ambassador.
