Lottery Funding supports Gateshead Carers

Descriptor: First we see a wide shot of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, together with a caption which reads, "Gateshead, North East England". We now meet Gaynor Faye who describes why she is in Gateshead and what we are going to see in this film.

Gaynor Faye: I'm in Gateshead, visiting the Gateshead Carers Association. It's been running for over sixteen years and is currently helping in excess of seventeen hundred carers in the local community.

Descriptor: We now see a low shot of a row of terraced buildings, where the Gateshead Carer's Association office is located, before we see various internal shots of the office.

Gaynor Faye: They've applied for a National Lottery grant to continue the fantastic work they do here, and extend it to the wider community.

Descriptor: We now see various shots of Steve Cowen, the Chief Officer of Gateshead Carers Association, in his office, before meeting him for an interview.  As Steve Cowen speaks, we see members of staff going about their duties inside the office of Gateshead Carers Association.

Steve Cowen: Yeah, we currently estimate that within Gateshead there are between twenty and twenty five thousand carers. With the resources we have, we're only able to reach a small proportion of that. In essence, what we try to do is, is to work to ensure that carers don't suffer financial hardship and, and that their quality of life improves.

Descriptor: We now see a wide external shot of Dianne Gaffin's house, before seeing shots of her inside the house, caring for her husband John.

Gaynor Faye: Dianne Gaffin lives in Wrekenton, Gateshead and cares for her husband John. John has been diagnosed with cancer, but is now in remission. He has limited vision, diabetes, and has suffered a number of strokes.

Descriptor: We now meet Dianne Gaffin, who describes how her husband John has been ill and what Gateshead Carers have meant to her in that time.  As she speaks, we see her and her husband together.

Dianne Gaffin: Well John has been poorly for a good few year now, and sometimes, emotionally, I do feel wrecked. I will say the Gateshead Carers offer you the hand of friendship and I think sometimes that's one of the most important things, somebody to listen to you. And to me that's just skill in itself, that.

Descriptor: We are now introduced to Sarah Wright, who we see at home with her three children, before meeting her in interview.

Gaynor Faye: Sarah Wright is a 32 year old single mum to three boys, two of which have special needs.

Sarah Wright: They've really been there for me at my hardest times. The people that I've met, the carers do understand what it can be like and, and how lonely it can get, because it can get really lonely as well. The carers being there is just, it's been a lifesaver.

Descriptor: We now see members of the Gateshead Carers Association at work, before seeing a shot of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, and various shots of artistic and creative groups that the Gateshead Carers Association offer.

Gaynor Faye: As well as emotional and practical support, they offer creative groups, like art and photography, to give carers valuable time out for themselves.

Descriptor: We now meet Henry, who is a carer and taking part in one of the Gateshead Carers Association groups.

Henry: When you're caring for someone 24/7, it's hard, and just a couple of hours here, once a week was, is absolutely marvellous.

Descriptor: We now see a wide shot of the exterior of the Gateshead Carers Association building, before seeing Steve Cowen with staff members inside.  As the camera pans across the employees, we see Gaynor Faye enter the room.

Gaynor Faye: Steve's gathered the team and some of the carers together at the [Gateshead] Carers Association, and I'm going to deliver some good news.

Gaynor Faye: Hi everyone, hiya. Sorry for gate crashing your party! I'm actually here, on behalf of The National Lottery, to award your project with a grant of two hundred and sixty two thousand, one hundred and eighty seven pounds.

Descriptor: We now see various shots of elated staff members of Gateshead Carers Association, together with close-up shots of the oversized cheque.  We then meet Valerie Smith, who is on the Board of Trustees for Gateshead Carers Association.

Valerie Smith: To get this money, I mean it means we'll be able to expand and support and help people and it's just fantastic.

Descriptor: We now see shots of the staff members having their photos taken with Gaynor Faye, before meeting Steve Cowen once again, who explains the importance of The National Lottery Good Causes grant.

Steve Cowen: All our plans, what we want to do and, and now, now it can happen, so it's just brilliant.

Descriptor: Once again we see Gaynor Faye and the employees of Gateshead Carers Association being photographed, before meeting Mandy Quinn a Carer Support Worker, who describes what the grant means to her.  As she speaks, we see employees and carers, before once again returning to her.

Mandy Quinn: Absolutely shocked, really quite emotional actually, it's so emotional. This amount of money is fantastic for the organisation, for the carers, and thank you so much.

Descriptor: Finally we see shots of Gaynor Faye with employees and carers.