We've been supporting carers across Coventry and Warwickshire since our formation in 1974. We're incredibly proud of our work and are excited to share with you our intriguing history, which can be traced back to a beloved ATV show!
There has been a plethora of compelling stories, notable moments, influential people and partnerships along the way that have helped us become the organisation we are today. Several other fantastic local organisations have joined forces with us along the way and you can find out more about our rich history below!
Rugby Crossroads – where it began.
Our story begins in 1973, with Noel Crane, a Rugby paraplegic who was being cared for at home by his mother. Noel, enjoyed watching television and was an avid fan of 70s hit ATV show Crossroads which centred on the Crossroads Motel and starred Noele Gordon, as the motel owner Meg.
The show saw Meg’s son Sandy, played by Roger Tonge, left paralysed after a car crash. Meg’s life was turned upside down when she had to stay at home to care for him and she eventually set up a fictional “Caring for Carers” scheme which led to a stream of mail from viewers asking about it.
Noel got in touch with ATV (now Central TV) to voice his opinion on the show's portrayal of Meg and Sandy. Noel felt that the show had somewhat glamorised the life of a carer, which in reality was a lot more challenging, something his exhausted mother could attest to.
ATV were mindful of Noel's feedback and worked with him to help improve the way in which they depicted the life of a carer. ATV made available a grant of £10,000 for a two-year pilot project to produce a model of care that would enable people with spinal injuries to remain in their own homes.
Negotiations between a Director of ATV, Dr Leonard Matthews OBE; the medical advisor to the programme Dr Richard Hudson-Evans and Miss Sankey MBE, the District Nurse Tutor for Warwickshire who together, produced a framework for the project which was coordinated by a District Nursing Sister, Pat Osborne.
The original idea was to place care attendants in a home if an emergency arose, though early into the scheme it was decided that care attendants would instead visit service users in their own homes. As a part of this service, care attendants would help assist individuals getting in and out of bed, getting dressed and often stay with them so carers could have some time to themselves.
The pilot scheme of two years secured a further grant of £5000 from the Department of Health to support the program through 1976 and 1977. In its first year of operation, Crossroads supported 26 families, and it's success meant it was soon rolled out at a national level. The project became the Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme taking its name from the TV programme that Noel avidly watched.
The model of care was so good that it extended to include all physical disabilities and quickly spread to other authorities. The need for a national organisation was reaffirmed and The Association of Crossroads Care formed with their Head Office situated in Rugby.
Coventry Crossroads
In 1981, the scheme was set up in Coventry coordinated by Joan Sampson, wife of the Minister of Earlsdon Methodist Church. With only a broom cupboard as an office, Coventry Crossroads provided the Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme to people living in Coventry. In November 1999, Coventry Crossroads expanded the areas in which it operated to include Nuneaton, Bedworth and North Warwickshire, the area formerly served by a local Crossroads scheme. Care staff were transferred and existing contracts honoured.
By 2012 Crossroads Care was supporting over 43,000 carers and their families through a network of local Crossroads Care schemes. In 2012, Crossroads Care merged with The Princess Royal Trust for Carers – founded on the initiative of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal in 1991 - to form Carers Trust. Carers Trust now works with a network of over 120 local carer organisations across the UK, supporting close to one million people.
The Princess Royal Trust
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers was established in 1991 by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, following the George Square Trust. At the time, carers were largely unrecognised, with minimal services or support available. The Carers National Association, formed from a merger, began advocating for carers. With Community Care reforms in 1993 shifting care responsibilities to family and friends, the Trust focused on providing information, support, and recognition for carers. It developed a UK-wide service model, funded by charitable efforts and local authorities, and expanded through a growing network of Carers’ Centres, supported by The Princess Royal's patronage.
Coventry Carers’ Centre
In 1995, a project funded by Coventry Voluntary Services Council saw a small group of carers come together to support each other. The projects success lead to the formation of the Coventry Carers’ Centre in 1998. Based in the City Arcade, the centre was open 4 days a week to provide carers with support and information. In its first year, 1023 carers accessed services with 746 receiving emotional support and a further 15 given access to specialist counselling.
In 2015, Coventry Carers’ Centre and Coventry Crossroads merged forming Carers Trust Heart of England. It aimed to be a one-stop shop for carers of adults and children with care needs, providing information, support and respite.
