A STALWART of social care is to retire after almost a quarter of a century of helping thousands of unpaid carers.
Durham County Carers Support chief executive Jenni Wood is handing over the reins after seeing the numbers of carers on their books rise from 8,000 14 years ago to 34,000 today.
Her role will now be split between her colleagues Jacqui Coulson and Liz Johns who will look after resources and operations respectively.
Official estimates claim there are 13.6 million unpaid carers in country, an increase of 4.5 million since the beginning of the pandemic, tens of thousands in Darlington and County Durham.
Their tireless efforts save the taxpayer an estimated £132 billion a year as they take on roles which would otherwise be the responsibility of the State.
Jenni, of Cockfield, herself a carer, was born in Surrey, brought up in Sussex and has lived all over the country because of her husband’s work. They moved to the North East 29 years ago.
After reading an Open University degree, she worked with the Office of National Statistics on social research, eventually working in adult literacy helping children with learning disabilities.
Jenni started working with Durham and Chester-le-Street Carers Support and when Durham County Carers Support was formed through a merger 14 years ago she became its CEO.
“Being an unpaid carer for family, friends and neighbours is better recognised now and we are reaching more people and professionals,” she said. “People are better at referring cases to us and while it has been hard work for the team we have managed to develop far more resources to help.
“We are now working more closely with GPs, hospitals, social workers and Durham and Darlington councils, which is working really well. The Government under Andy Burnham also has a new action plan for carers which is really strong on social care, so I am more optimistic about the future. To have a job where you can make a difference every day has been a gift.”
Jacqui said: “I’d personally like to thank Jenni for her dedication and commitment to DCCS. Jenni and I first started working together following the merger in 2012, so we’ve shared a huge amount of change and development.
“It’s quite something to look back at how much DCCS has grown and evolved during that time and Jenni has played an important part in that journey.”
Liz said: “Jenni has made a huge contribution to Durham County Carers Support and to the lives of unpaid carers.
“Having worked alongside Jenni for many years, I have seen first-hand her passion towards making sure carers have a voice and can access the support they need. She leaves behind a strong organisation and a legacy that I know she is incredibly proud of.”
Chair of the board Janet Potts added: “Jenni has fundamentally shaped DCCS and has left an extraordinary 24 year legacy. Her enthusiasm shone through from the beginning and we all have a great deal of admiration for her. She built her leadership around a first-hand understanding of what our carers face every day and she has been a fierce and unwavering voice for unpaid carers.”
Jenni plans to spend her retirement being with her family, friends and spending more time on her hobbies of folk music, the theatre and singing with Heart Songs, a women’s group at Barnard Castle’s Hub.