Yahoo News The Gloucestershire community of carers celebrating 20 years of helping others
A community of carers who provide opportunities to black minority ethnic carers in Gloucestershire are celebrating a significant milestone for 2024.
The Ebony Community Carers Group are marking 20 years of service to the community by helping carers from the black community who need time for themselves. Giving them time to go shopping, attend courses, therapy sessions and visits from friends and family - the Ebony Community Carers are all committed volunteers.
Originally named the Black Network by founders Rupert Redway, Selena Duhaney, Claudette Curtis and Carol Sterling (currently co-ordinator and treasurer of the Ebony Group) - being adult carers and giving up their time to help others is a point of celebration this year.
READ MORE: Cosy cafe in Gloucester sells delicious breakfasts and gorgeous cakes
The current chair of the group is Blanche McCalla, who retired as an NHS nurse at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in 2007. Launched in October 2004 officially, Ebony Community Carers offer support groups, sitting service, monthly meetings and counselling. A relaxed, safe environment for black community carers to give them time away from their caring responsibilities is important Blanche says.
Marking 20 years "is a great milestone as we have seen the need as this is service to the community, Blanche said. I have no idea what the next 20 years has in store and we are trying to get many more younger people involved. A lot of volunteers are retired so we do need more people to take the Ebony Carers forward and I think sometimes our community has not been heard. I have seen the needs of our community by doing this role."
Blanche's husband Donald is one person who gives a sense of how important Ebony Carers have been to the community, a role where time has to be given. Donald said: "It has been a success after so many years and among the black community here in Gloucester this has continued to do well. We all hope that we get more younger people and help them to see their role in the community where it does involve giving your time."
Another voice to add to the celebration is Bren McInerney. Described as Bren "Mr Community Volunteer" McInerney, it is friendship within the black community that has driven him to help the Ebony Carers over the years. "The main driver in me is to be kind, Bren said. Doing this is a privileged opportunity and what it means to the community is a sense of pride, achievement and self-ownership. This is all about how we use our privilege and all of this is hugely important. A lot of information can be hard to reach certain communities so helping with the Ebony Carers this has been how I choose to help others."
