St Ives charity wins national award for pioneering service

ST IVES charity Crossroads Care Cambridgeshire has been named a national award-winner.

And to top off a fantastic few days, the Meadow Lane-based charity was visited on Monday (June 18) by care services minister Paul Burstow, who was in St Ives to learn more about Crossroads Care’s respite services for carers, including a service that allows GPs to prescribe short breaks or extra support for carer.

It was this pioneering service that won Crossroads Care its award at the charity awards on Thursday.

Chief executive Dr Helen Brown was presented with the Effectiveness Award in a ceremony at Grosvenor House, London.

Dr Brown said: “I am delighted that all our hard work has been recognised. I hope that the success we have seen in Cambridgeshire can be replicated in other parts of the country. I am a passionate advocate for people who give their time and energy to care for others, and we should do our best to support them in carrying out this vital role.”

After his visit to Crossroads and the Spinney Surgery, St Ives, Mr Burstow praised the service, which is provided by the NHS, Cambridgeshire County Council and Crossroads.

“I have been very impressed,” he said. “Carers play an invaluable role in our society and it’s vital that we support them in every way we can to ensure they are allowed to have a life in addition to their caring responsibilities.”

As one of the 10 category winners, Crossroads was in the running for the overall winner but missed out to The HALO Trust.