Crossroads Braintree and Chelmsford

tand the importance of making sure that family carers are supported themselves. We can help carers achieve this by providing a break for a few hours each week, whilst we take care of the person they are caring for. Crossroads Braintree and Chelmsford has been providing respite care for over 40 years and was one of the earliest schemes to be set up. We cover the entire Braintree District area including all three towns, Braintree, Witham and Halstead and all 56 villages and more recently have started to provide respite care for unpaid carers in the Chelmsford area. Braintree Crossroads is run by a voluntary management committee which employs a Care Coordinator and a Finance and Business Development manager to manage the Scheme, along with a team of fully trained Care Support workers. Our objectives are to help relieve the physical and emotional stress experienced by those who provide unpaid care to individuals affected by illness. We aim to help individuals avoid admission to hospital or residential care, by offering carers a break, giving them a little free time for themselves. We are an approved care provider for Essex County Council under the Social Services Direct Payment contract. Much of our costs are funded by grants from the health and local authority together with donations and fundraising events.