AFTER providing respite for carers for the past 18 years, a south Essex charity is spreading its wings.

Crossroads, based on Canvey, aims to lessen the burden on those caring for sick or disabled relatives and friends, by offering respite care.

The charity provides specialist support staff who can go into family homes, freeing carers to go to work, to shop or simply take a break from their responsibilities.

Its work has long been appreciated locally, but now carers in Rochford and Maldon districts are benefiting, too.

Some other areas have their own Crossroads schemes, but the success of Castle Point’s organisation means it could soon be expanding into other parts of Essex where there is no cover.

Castle Point Crossroads chief executive Paul Ramsden said: “We’re delighted with the opportunity to extend our work.

“It’s a real pat on the back to all the hard work the staff have put in here.

“Caring is a huge responsibility and some people find it overwhelming.

“They think they need to give up their jobs and their social life, but by using us, they can maintain their relationship with the person they care for and lead a more normal life.”

Crossroads – based in a former warehouse on the Charfleets Industrial Estate, Canvey – offers its service to all carers, with Essex County Council helping with funding.

Although there is a waiting list for some services Mr Ramsden remains keen for carers to get in touch and to find out if it can help them.

He said: “People don’t see themselves as carers. They see what they do as simply their duty.

“They don’t ask for help and often, the stress gets so much they themselves get seriously ill, so you end up with two people in need of full-time care.”

Caste Point Crossroads is a subsidiary of Crossroads Care, a national charity, which runs about 200 separate schemes across the UK.

Its name comes from the old ITV soap, Crossroads, set in a fictional motel near Birmingham and a favourite programme between 1964 and 1988.

A storyline in the drama dealt with the issues carers faced when one of the characters, Sandy Richardson, was left wheelchair-bound by a car accident.

Programme maker Central Television was so taken aback by the response, it made a £10,000 donation to set up the charity, Crossroads.

At its peak in the Eighties and Nineties, there were Crossroads schemes in every district of Essex, but financial pressures mean just six remain.

Each branch is independent and offers slightly different services, depending on the area’s needs.

Mr Ramsden explained: “In Castle Point, there is a high number of people with disabilities, so we have decided to focus on them.

“In Southend, the scheme is more focused on helping those looking after elderly relatives.”

As well as its outreach work, Castle Point Crossroads also runs a daycare centre between 9.30am to 3.30pm every weekday.

The centre, also based on Charfleets, currently looks after 12 young adults with disabilities, who are aged between 19 and 42, giving their carers a daily break.

The young adults suffer from a range of physical and mental disabilities and get to take part in all sorts of activities, many of which have an educational theme.

Mr Ramsden said: “It can be as simple as organising what to have for lunch.

“We discuss what we are going to eat, they get to go to the supermarket and buy the ingredients and we all make it together.

“It’s the sort of thing most people take for granted, but it gives a real feeling of independence. Once these young people leave school at about 18, there is very little support for them in terms of care, so I really think this service is vital both for them and their carers.”

The day care centre has proved popular and there is a long waiting list.

The charity is currently limited by space but hopes to expand into a neighbouring warehouse, once a ban on building on Canvey because of the flood risk is finally lifted.

For more details, call 01268 660860, or go to crossroadsessex.org.uk