York Minster

New Exhibition for Sharing Care

Published Wednesday 10th December 2003 by Eleanor Course

A new exhibition is being unveiled in York Minster on Monday 15th December. On display will be children's designs for a Christmas card to be produced by Sharing Care. Sharing Care is an organisation that provides short break carers for disabled children. This exhibition not only gives the children who entered the competition a chance to see their work displayed, but will also provide information on the work of Sharing Care.

Jenny Bullock, the Chair of Shared Care Network, explained the role of short break carers. "Short break carers look after disabled children on a regular voluntary basis for short periods of time. This can be anything from a few hours a week to a few days a month. These short break schemes provide a vital support service to families of disabled children and help the child make new friends, gain independence and widen their social circle. These are opportunities which are often unavailable to disabled children and young people."

Jenny is hoping that the exhibition will encourage people to become short break carers. "Short break carers come from all ages and backgrounds; they may be retired, working, married, single or unemployed. Some short break carers have experience of working with disabled children and some do not. What they do have in common is that they enjoy the company of children and are able to give some time on a regular basis to look after a disabled child and give their family a break from caring.? For more information on the work of Sharing Care, please contact Jenny Bullock on 01904 555633 or e-mail jenny.bullock@york.gov.uk.

The exhibition runs until Tuesday 30th December in the North Transept. York residents are able to see the exhibition free of charge by using their Minster Passes. To obtain a Minster Pass, York Residents can send an SAE to the Visitors Department, St William's College, 5 College Street, York, YO1 7JF, or pick one up in the Minster.

For more information about shared break schemes nationally, log on to the shared care network website: www.sharedcarenetwork.org.uk.