Sponsoring the ‘Carer of the year’ award and a table at the spectacular event, Carers Break were delighted to present the award to one of the joint winners below. 

The occassion was so well put together with a 3 course meal, disco by RW entertainments and live performances by Rhys The Night Church Pianist and the brilliant Queen tribute act-‘The Good old lover boys’.

In a world of endless negative news, it was great to recognise people who think of others above themselves.

For many years it has been an urban myth that we cannot employ under 18’s to work in Social Care. However, this is not the case.

https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/resources/documents/Recruitment-support/Widen-your-talent-pool/Employing-16-17-year-olds/Guidance-on-employing-workers-aged-16-and-17.pdf

Carers Break recently employed two 2^nd year ‘A’ level students. One of which is studying to be a midwife and the other a Forensic Phycologist. Working with Carers Break to gain work experience they both were offered the opportunity to be fully trained as Care and Support workers for Carers Break CIC. Their training was carefully woven into their ‘A’ level studies and school attendance. During the summer of 2025, both young workers gained invaluable experience, training and confidence to work with vulnerable clients in the Community. Being well supervised, mentored and supported by the team at Carers Break, both girls have grown into very capable, responsible and effective Care and support workers. 

A major benefit for the 2 students has been not just the opportunity to develop a more rounded ability to deal face to face with vulnerable people, something they will have to in their future careers, but also, they both maximised their earning potential during the summer holidays being paid adult rates. Carers Break believe that age shouldn’t be a barrier, rather their energy, enthusiasm, recent familiarity with education and training stands them in great stead to strengthen the workforce of our sector.

Working with ‘Trusted Training’, Carers Break offer a comprehensive training programme all year around. This ‘Face to Face’ classroom-based training covers many subjects that are available to any Care provider in Cornwall or beyond and also, where suitable any Company or individual from other sectors. Courses include:

Oliver McGowan Tier 1 and Tier 2

Patient moving and handling

Safe handling of Medication  

Emergency 1^st aid at work – 1 day

First aid at work 3 days

16 modules of the Care Certificate

Diabetes & Epilepsy awareness

Dementia and Parkinsons awareness

End of life and Cancer awareness]

Food safety

Adult Safeguarding

Mental Health 1^st aid

Mental capacity & DOLS

More information on all courses and how to join including locations and costs can be had from Carers Break CIC on 01726 890828 or email enquiries@carersbreak.org.uk

The Fast track into care courses are held in Pool and Bodmin. Working together with the jobs coaches around the County, candidates have been identified and offered the opportunity to attend a 5 day course with Carers Break and Trusted Training where they will be taught the 16 fundamental standards required to work in Health and Social Care, Safe moving and handling of people, using all the equipment required, a medication management session and a day out shadowing experienced staff with real people in real situations. After the course is completed fully, each candidate is offered a guarunteed interview with a possibility of employment with Carers break.

During the last 3 courses Carers Break have recruited around a dozen new staff across the County. Many of the first cohort have already completed significant amounts of further training in emergency first aid, food safety, Oliver McGowan training tiers 1 and 2 and much more beside and are already out earning their living as Community Support Workers. The feedback we are receiving from our clients and their families is first class and they are doing a sterling job.

One of the candidates , now full time employee said ” Its great, I am really enjoying this role and wished I had done this years ago”.

If you are interested in joining us on one of these free courses, currently unemployed on Universal credit or ESA contact your jobs coach for more information or contact us directly on 01726 890828 or email enquiries@carersbreak.org.uk and we can do that on your behalf. You may be our next employee!

September 15th to 20th 2025, Reuben Jenkins, Director of Carers Break CIC, was one of 29 cyclists and 6 support team from Cornwall Hospice care and Clive Mitchell cycles who travelled to Ouistreham in Normandy by ferry from Portsmouth Harbour to embark on a 355 mile cycle ride back to Mt Edgecumbe Hopsice via Roskoff, France to raise much needed funds for our Cornish Hospice service. Day 1 began straight off the ferry in France with a 79 mile cycle to Flers. Day 2 increased to over 90 miles during which time they travelled through Normany and into Brittany. Taking in Mont Saint -Michel, France’s larger version of Saint Micheals Mount and the beautiful medieval town of Dinan. Day 3 was over 80 miles to Lannion in North West France before the penultimate ride via Morlaix to Roscoff where they boarded the ferry at Roskoff to Plymouth. The weather was kind, the roads were fabulous, the support was excellent and the company was outstanding. Only on the final leg of the cycle ride was the weather horrendous and that started the moment they set foot in Cornwall at Torpoint! What a week, what an experience.

Reuben was sponsored by Carers Break CIC, their landlord Portreath Bakery, RH Signs who produced the promotional t-shirts, Trusted Training who provide all Carers Break CIC’s training and Cornwall’s Rewind Radio who manage all of Carers Break’s media output. In addition he was sponsored by friends, family colleagues and clients of Carers Break CIC and raised over £2,000.

The team of 29 cyclists raised north of £52,000 to the direct benefit of Cornwall Hospice Care.

We are still providing the same excellent quality Care & Support all over Cornwall but our office has moved from it’s home of 11 years in Roche to open our new admin & training facility in Redruth.

As part of our ambitious development programme for 2024 and 2025, we have moved into a fabulous new office facility within Duchy Business Centre on Wilson Way, Redruth.
We will be providing specialist Health & Social Care training  and a calendar full of training opportunities for Care providers and other industry seeking first class First aid training amongst many other disciplines.
All training will be delivered by True Blue Training Solutions who deliver market leading training from experts by experience.

Carers Break will be releasing training dates soon and a really exciting development in the Autumn – Watch this space!

Carers Break have been intrinsically involved in this fantastic and exciting 3 month initiative from drawing board to delivery.

Working with the Proud to Care team and other providers of care, we are helping to staff the Triage helpline (01872 229977) where you can glean a mass of information about the variety and detail of roles available in Health and Social Care in the Duchy. We have provided a VLOG from Abi on a typical day in her life at work and 3 of us have appeared on Chaos TV to talk about what Carers Break provide to families across the County including how and why we provide the level of care we deliver and what its like to work in our sector. Abi sums it up just nicely…

Carers Break, has donated £3000 to Merlin MS Centre after a recommendation from a member of staff.

Every year Carers Break, based at Roche, donates money from their Community Chest to a local cause as an expression of their Social value.

Longstanding employee and night support worker, Claire Le Bailly put forward Merlin MS Centre at Hewas Water after both her and her husband Chris benefitted from the Centre’s Oxygen Therapy department.

In August this year Claire developed a severe inner ear infection which caused her to collapse and break her leg in three places. After surgery and much to Claire’s surprise her GP suggested she could be off work for as long as six months.

Oxygen Therapy has long been used as a treatment to aid recovery for a variety of acute injuries including fractures, strains and tears. Although the chambers housed at Merlin MS Centre were first installed to help reduce the symptoms relating to Multiple Sclerosis, the department now receives a high number of clients with non-neurological conditions. Claire’s husband Chris had been using the pressurised barochambers since May to help aid recovery after his hip replacement.

Claire said; “I was shocked when the doctors suggested I could be off work for up to six months. I knew Chris had found oxygen therapy helpful so I booked to see the Centre’s Clinical Lead, Melissa King who said I could start oxygen as soon as the cast was off. She also gave me some exercises I could do at home. Initially I was having 2-3 sessions a week, I would have come every day but it was a bit of a struggle when I was using a wheelchair. Now I am only using a stick I come four times a week.

“The Centre is incredible, until Oxygen Therapy was recommended to Chris by a friend. I was unaware the Centre can support people with conditions other than MS. I have bumped into old school friends and neighbours and had the most wonderful support from the staff and volunteers.  I have seen how much of a lifeline this place is for people whose condition means they are not going to get better, it has made a huge impact on me which is why I wanted to put the charity forward to benefit from this donation.”

Reuben Jenkins, one of Carers Break’s two founding Directors, said; “We are delighted to present Merlin MS Centre with this financial gift with full confidence that it will be used to sustain the vital services offered by this wonderful centre.”

If you would like to find out more about Oxygen Therapy please contact the Centre on 01726 885530.